TWI and Endeavor 'Transend' New Boundaries in Joint Venture

TWI and Endeavor 'Transend' New Boundaries in Joint Venture

LONDON and LOS ANGELES, California, September 27/PRNewswire/ -- TWI and Endeavor today announce the launch of a new joint venture - Transend - an innovative partnership which will capitalise on the companies' individual strengths for mutual worldwide gain.

Transend will combine the might of TWI, the media arm of IMG, one of the world's leading independent production and distribution companies, with renowned Hollywood talent agency Endeavor, to create new opportunities and reach new worldwide audiences for properties, clients and contacts, effective immediately.

TWI, whose clients include the International Olympic Committee, the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (Wimbledon) and the Nobel Institute, has a global network of more than 40 offices and an internationally-recognised sales force.

Endeavor is one of the largest talent agencies in Hollywood, representing actors such as Matt Damon, Keira Knightley, Diane Lane, Jude Law, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler and Mark Wahlberg; and motion picture literary talent such as Martin Scorsese, David O. Russell and Paul Thomas Anderson. The agency also represents the creators and executive producers of some of the most popular shows on television, including "24", "The O.C.", "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "Survivor".

Former Head of Programming at Target Entertainment Ian Moffitt has been appointed as Managing Director to oversee Transend, and will be based in Los Angeles. Moffitt, who previously worked at Tiger Aspect and Carlton International, is well versed in building relationships with key producers on both sides of the Atlantic.

Transend will exploit all rights opportunities including formats, video, DVD and new media. Initial projects include Vegas Law, a reality series about a flamboyant defence attorney, and Shaquille, a behind-the-scenes show featuring the basketball/rap star Shaquille O'Neal.

Bill Sinrich, CEO of TWI, said: "We are delighted to have Endeavor as our partner in this exciting new joint venture. Transend will work with the talent agency's prestigious clients and use TWI's unrivalled global distribution network to seek new opportunities in places where either others haven't looked or they lacked the expertise to make it happen. This is the perfect marriage of Endeavor's extraordinary reach in the Hollywood entertainment environment and TWI's world-class sales and distribution teams. Ian Moffitt's business development expertise and genuine passion for television will bring a unique mix of skills to Transend which will help make it the independent distributor of choice for the US independent production sector. Not least, I am thrilled that this takes TWI one step further in our new direction, entertainment, as part of our growth strategy for the future."

"We are excited to create this partnership with TWI, the world's largest independent sports producer and a major international distributor of programming," said the Endeavor partners in a joint statement. "Combined with the versatile and talented entertainment clients Endeavor represents and the leadership of Ian Moffitt, who will helm the new venture, Transend guarantees a winning company for the world market."

Ian Moffitt said: "I am thrilled to be joining Transend at the outset. It is a fantastic opportunity to introduce hot properties and clients to new audiences and buyers, and, with the backing of TWI whose reputation for deal making, rights management and distribution is second to none, coupled with Endeavor's diverse and prolific clients and extensive contacts network, we are on to a winner."

Notes to Editors:

About TWI:

TWI is the television, broadcast and new media arm of the IMG, the world's premier sports marketing agency, which was acquired last year by Forstmann Little. It is the world's largest independent producer, packager and distributor of sports programming, producing more than 6,000 hours and distributing nearly 9,000 hours of live events and original programming each year, across 200 countries and covering more than 240 sports.

TWI's non sports-programming includes I'd Do Anything (BBC and ESPN), The 2005 Oscars, Manhunt and Battle of the Reality Stars (Bravo), Race to the Altar (NBC), and the BAFTA-award-winning Colour of War documentary series.

TWI has 40 offices worldwide and production centres in London, Hong Kong, New Delhi, New York, Seoul and Sydney. It also represents television rights to many of the world's premier sporting events and has the world's biggest sports archive with more than 200,000 hours of footage

About Endeavor:

Endeavor is one of Hollywood's leading entertainment companies. The agency represents the industry's most important writers, directors, producers and actors, and includes divisions catering to video games and new technology, commercials and voiceovers, endorsements and corporate clients. The agency also represents alternative clients such as WWE, Lighthearted (Extreme Makeover), Evolution, Thom Beers (Monster Garage), Tiger Aspect, Hat Trick , Celador International, Renegade (Blind Date/4400) and many other talented producer/production companies as well as broadcast host John Walsh, Carson Daly, Ahmad Rashad, Jeff Probst, Conan O'Brien and other great broadcast talent.

Source: TWI and Endeavor

For IMG/TWI: Madeleine Pallas, Tel:+44-(0)20-8233-7425, Mob Cell: +44-(0)7973-326-422, Email: mpallas@imgworld.com, Linda Dozoretz, Linda Dozoretz Communications, Tel.: +1-323-656-4499, E-mail: Linda@ldcomm.com, Endeavor: Michael Donkis, Tel: +1-310-246-3390; Email: mdonkis@endeavorla.com

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