Press Services : True Entertainment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Endemol acquires majority stake in Emmy Award-winning True Entertainment

2003-09-30, New York / Hilversum
Endemol, producer of such worldwide phenomena as Fear Factor and Big Brother, today announced its acquisition of a 51% stake in New York-based True Entertainment, one of the country's leading independent producers of factual TV entertainment. The Dutch-based format powerhouse already has an affiliate in Los Angeles. "The acquisition on the American East Coast means a widening of our geographic spread of operations as well as an extension of our product and clientele", says Hubert Deitmers, member of Endemol's Executive Board and responsible for Mergers and Acquisitions.
True Entertainment will continue to be managed by the founding partners, Glenda Hersh and Steven Weinstock. Established in 2000, the company specializes in non-fiction, reality and documentary programs.
"Endemol's business model enables us to remain independent while enjoying the benefits of its large, international network," says Glenda Hersh. "We are now able to tap into markets that were previously only open to third party distributors."
"The ability to distribute our programming internationally through Edemol's group as well as produce Endemol formats in the U.S. is a win-win," says Steven Weinstock.
David Goldberg, President of Endemol USA, noted that, "Steven and Glenda run a highly profitable company known for generating high quality programming. As Endemol continuously looks to grow and diversify its presence in the U.S., we are excited to welcome them to our group."
True Entertainment has produced for a variety of major cable networks including National Geographic, TLC, VH1, The Travel Channel and Lifetime Television. The True team has created some of the most successful reality shows in cable, including the highly acclaimed award-winning Women Docs for Lifetime Television as well as Trauma: Life in the E.R. for TLC.
True Entertainment boasts an impressive track record with eight series currently in production and several projects in development for the major networks. Hersh and Weinstock have been recognized with numerous industry awards including a 2003 National News and Documentary Emmy nomination and a 2003 Daytime Emmy Award for TLC's A Baby Story.
Among the company's current roster of productions are Doctors Without Borders: Life in the Field, a 13-part series for the National Geographic Channel; Worlds Apart, a ground-breaking reality show for the same channel that takes average American families and sends them to live in remote locations around the world; 28 Days in Rehab, an 8-part series for VH1 that follows 8 addicts as they go through rehab and recovery; and Help Wanted, a series for TLC, in which contestants compete to win a job.
Contact:
Endemol Holding, Corporate Communication, Thomas Notermans, Tel. +31 (0)35 53 999 42

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Endemol acquires majority stake in Emmy Award-winning True Entertainment

2003-09-30, New York / Hilversum

Endemol, producer of such worldwide phenomena as Fear Factor and Big Brother, today announced its acquisition of a 51% stake in New York-based True Entertainment, one of the country's leading independent producers of factual TV entertainment. The Dutch-based format powerhouse already has an affiliate in Los Angeles. "The acquisition on the American East Coast means a widening of our geographic spread of operations as well as an extension of our product and clientele", says Hubert Deitmers, member of Endemol's Executive Board and responsible for Mergers and Acquisitions.

True Entertainment will continue to be managed by the founding partners, Glenda Hersh and Steven Weinstock. Established in 2000, the company specializes in non-fiction, reality and documentary programs.

"Endemol's business model enables us to remain independent while enjoying the benefits of its large, international network," says Glenda Hersh. "We are now able to tap into markets that were previously only open to third party distributors."

"The ability to distribute our programming internationally through Edemol's group as well as produce Endemol formats in the U.S. is a win-win," says Steven Weinstock.

David Goldberg, President of Endemol USA, noted that, "Steven and Glenda run a highly profitable company known for generating high quality programming. As Endemol continuously looks to grow and diversify its presence in the U.S., we are excited to welcome them to our group."

True Entertainment has produced for a variety of major cable networks including National Geographic, TLC, VH1, The Travel Channel and Lifetime Television. The True team has created some of the most successful reality shows in cable, including the highly acclaimed award-winning Women Docs for Lifetime Television as well as Trauma: Life in the E.R. for TLC.

True Entertainment boasts an impressive track record with eight series currently in production and several projects in development for the major networks. Hersh and Weinstock have been recognized with numerous industry awards including a 2003 National News and Documentary Emmy nomination and a 2003 Daytime Emmy Award for TLC's A Baby Story.

Among the company's current roster of productions are Doctors Without Borders: Life in the Field, a 13-part series for the National Geographic Channel; Worlds Apart, a ground-breaking reality show for the same channel that takes average American families and sends them to live in remote locations around the world; 28 Days in Rehab, an 8-part series for VH1 that follows 8 addicts as they go through rehab and recovery; and Help Wanted, a series for TLC, in which contestants compete to win a job.

Contact:
Endemol Holding, Corporate Communication, Thomas Notermans, Tel. +31 (0)35 53 999 42