National Geographic unveils $100m production pact with Imagenation Abu Dhabi

National Geographic unveils $100m production pact with Imagenation Abu Dhabi

National Geographic Entertainment (NGE) has announced a
$100m production alliance with
Imagenation Abu Dhabi (IAD) at MIPCOM 2008.

Under the deal, the two partners aim
to produce 10-15 factual films over
the next five years for the Arabic-speaking and global markets.

The fund was announced by Tim
Kelly, president of National Geographic Global Media, and Edward
Borgerding, CEO of IAD, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Media
Company (ADMC).

They revealed
that the films would range in value
from $5m-$60m and focus on
topics such as people’s relationship
to the world, the environment and
each other.

Explaining the partnership, IAD’s
Borgerding said: “This deal continues our strategy of building
relationships with the world’s leading media companies. It supports
our aim to produce films that are
commercially successful and appealing to diverse cultures.”

According to Kelly, the fund means
NGE “will be able to expand its out-
reach into the creative community
and help film-makers to produce the
films they dreamed of making when
they entered the industry”.

Meanwhile, ADMC has unveiled
new on-screen identities and pro-
gramming for its broadcast
operation, Abu Dhabi TV. “In a
highly competitive market, it is es-
sential that Abu Dhabi TV innovates
and evolves its brands and content
in line with audience demands,”
said ADMC chairman Mohamed
Khalaf Al-Mazrouei.

Flagship channel Abu Dhabi Al
Oula will air a local version of En-
demol’s Ton Of Cash, the biggest
adventure-reality show to be filmed
in the United Arab Emirates.