Our history
Fremantle has existed for over 100 years. We’re proud of the creative excellence our history represents, and how we have grown to become a global leader in content creation, production and distribution.
1917
Germany’s film and TV production powerhouse, UFA is founded.
1956
The longest running gameshow in Television history, Price is Right launches.
1959
Reg Grundy Productions founded. The original home of Neighbours, Good Times Bad Times and Going for Gold.
1968
Thames Television first broadcasts in the UK, later becomes the home of The Bill.
1971
British film and TV production company Euston Films is founded.
1976
Family Feud launches in USA, later adapting to 67 global markets.
1983
First broadcast of iconic British police series The Bill, which continued for 26 years.
1985
Australian hit soap Neighbours first launches on our screens. Three years later over 19 million people in the UK would tune in to watch Scott and Charlene marry.
1990
Creation of Pearson and merger with Thames Television to create Pearson TV.
1990
Good Times Bad Times format was created, first launching in the Netherlands as Goede tijden, slechte tijden. Today it’s the longest running Dutch soap opera.
1992
Good Times Bad Times goes to Germany as UFA launches Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten, the longest running German soap opera.
1995
Pears TV buys Grundy.
1996
Pearson TV buys All American TV, which has an enviable catalogue including Baywatch, The Price is Right and Family Feud.
1999
Finland’s longest running drama Salatut elämät (Secret Lives) airs.
2000
Pearson TV acquires Talkback Productions, creating Talkback Thames makers of Netflix sensation Too Hot To Handle, QI and Harry’s Heroes.
2000
Merger of CLT-UFA and Pearson TV which creates RTL Group.
2001
Pearson TV rebranded as FremantleMedia. Media conglomerate Bertelsmann becomes majority shareholder of RTL Group.
2001
Pop Idol format is created and Pop Idol UK goes on to be watched by over 700 million viewers worldwide to date.
2002
Worldwide phenomenon American Idol launches crowning two-time Grammy award winning Kelly Clarkson as the first winner.
2004
The X Factor launches in the UK, propelling singing sensations Leona Lewis, James Arthur, Little Mix and One Direction to superstardom. Farmer Wants A Wife launches for the first time in Belgium as Boer zoekt Vrouw.
2006
America’s Got Talent airs for the first time. 'Got Talent' now holds the Guinness World Record for world’s most successful reality TV format, watched by over a billion viewers worldwide.
2007
The highest rated entertainment show of the 21st century, Britain’s Got Talent premieres.
2009
Susan Boyle’s famous Britain’s Got Talent audition begins our journey on YouTube – the clip broke three million views in five days.
2009
Leading games development company Ludia, and renowned reality producers Original Productions join the Fremantle family.
2014
Miso Film, leaders in Scandi drama, join the Fremantle family.
2015
Wildside, producers of acclaimed drama ‘The Young Pope’ starring Jude Law and directed by Paolo Sorrentino become part of the Fremantle Family. They are joined by Kwai and No Pictures Please.
2016
Abot Hameiri, makers of Shtisel, join the Fremantle family.
2018
FremantleMedia rebrands to Fremantle.
2018
Our Britain’s Got Talent YouTube channel received a Diamond Play button for reaching 10 million subscribers – first European TV channel to win this.
2019
20 years of Grand Designs and 153 spectacular builds. Fremantle partners with Richard Brown and his label Passenger to develop and produce scripted series out of the US.
2020
Got Talent format travels to over 75 territories around the world.
2020
Farmer Wants a Wife celebrates 178 weddings and 360 babies.
2020
Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten reaches 7,000 episode milestone.
2021
Fremantle completes the acquisition of 12 production companies based in the Nordics