Fremantle does Rough Cut deal

FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has signed an exclusive first-look output deal with Ash Atalla's new independent production company, Rough Cut Television.

The deal grants FME all television, DVD and new media rights worldwide.

David Ellender, FremantleMedia Enterprises' chief executive, said: "Ash is a comedy talent beyond compare with whom we have already enjoyed a terrific working relationship and we are thrilled to welcome him to the FME family."

"We're confident that his prolific talent will lead to the development of yet more brilliant shows to shape the genre, and we very much look forward to representing them across multiple media platforms around the world. Comedy is a key genre for us and this deal with Ash is sure to cement further our position as the place to come for the hottest talent and the funniest comedy," he added.

As well as producing The Office, Atalla was also at the helm of talkbackThames' The IT Crowd and Man Stroke Woman, which are both distributed internationally by FME.

Ash Atalla said: "I can't wait to get going on making a new generation of comedies. I feel really happy to be a part of the FremantleMedia family and I look forward to working with them to deliver killer shows for them to go forth and multiply the world over."