MIPTV, Cannes – Tony Cohen, CEO, FremantleMedia outlined the company’s plans for weathering the current economic storm, noting that 2008 was FremantleMedia’s best year ever. Following on from RTL Group’s financial result announcement in March 2009, FremantleMedia’s 2008 revenue reached EURO 1.2 billion, (US$1.5 billion) and its overall earnings (EBITDA) grew by more than 18% to EURO 155 million (US$205 million), EURO 24 million (US$31 million) more than the previous year. Cohen outlined the company’s short-term and longer-term strategy for successfully navigating the current recession. “FremantleMedia continues to invest in new development, innovative content and creative partnerships. We will also look to pursue beneficial acquisitions like our recently announced deal with Original Productions.” In 2008, FremantleMedia produced over 10,000 hours of programming; top shows include entertainment programmes such as Got Talent, sold to 28 countries; Idols sold to 42 countries; and format Hole In The Wall sold to 32 countries by the end of 2008, making it FremantleMedia’s fastest travelling format ever. The company has significantly boosted its team in Asia with the appointment of Fuji TV veteran Shingo Ishiyama as president and representative director of FremantleMedia Japan KK. Joining as managing director FremantleMedia Indonesia is Carl Zuzarte, former head of content and creative for Viacom Brand Solutions and MTV Southeast Asia. Both report to CEO FremantleMedia Asia Patrick Schult. Regional CEO Europe and Asia Pacific Simon Spalding told Television Asia Plus that India remains a key priority and the search continues for the right person to head up that market.