For Immediate Release

Singaporean company, Imagine OmniMedia partners Mark Burnett Productions to bring reality TV series The Contender Asia to Singapore

July 11, 2007, Singapore – Imagine OmniMedia today announced plans to produce the reality series The Contender Asia in Singapore. The 15-episode reality TV series will be filmed in Singapore and will be broadcast on the AXN network for the Asian markets in October.

Following the successful series, The Contender, a Mark Burnett production, in the US, Mark Burnett Productions is expanding the franchise in Asia by partnering with Imagine OmniMedia to produce The Contender Asia. The series takes on an Asian flavor with the 16 top contestants competing in the art of Muay Thai. The international line-up of contestants will arrive in Singapore in August to begin shooting for this 15-week series. The series takes on the format of elimination on a weekly basis till the best Contender emerges at the final fight.

The Contender Asia, marks the first time a reality TV series will be filmed in Singapore and produced by a local media company. “It is our objective to bring international content to Singapore and Asia. We aim to maintain the international production values synonymous with Mark Burnett Productions while ensuring the show is relevant to the Asian audience,” said Riaz Mehta, Executive Producer of The Contender Asia and Chief Executive Officer of Imagine OmniMedia.

“The Contender series has a huge following all over the world and we are confident The Contender Asia will be a big success and put Singapore as a key location for future productions,” he continued.

“I’m delighted to be partnering with Imagine OmniMedia and feel privileged that the government of Singapore have chose to help us for The Contender Asia which is the very first version of The Contender format in that region. I fully expect a Contender Asia as the first of many Asian projects that we undertake with confidence.  We are very, very Asia focused,” said Mark Burnett, Executive Producer and creator of Mark Burnett Productions.

Imagine OmniMedia’s success in partnering with Mark Burnett Productions marks a significant milestone for the company as well as for Singapore’s efforts in promoting the media industry as one of the new growth engines of the economy. The success of Imagine OmniMedia in this project is intermediated by MDA Singapore, and in turn facilitated by Asian banking specialist – DBS Bank.  

"This is the first ever international reality TV show to be shot entirely on location and produced in Singapore. Furthermore, the participation of Singapore’s DBS Bank in financing this project signifies the value proposition that financial institutions are backing made-by-Singapore media content.  What’s encouraging is that the series is already slated for broadcast on the AXN network across Asia. This will boost Singapore’s effort to become a vibrant media city, and attract more exciting TV and film projects as well as talents and media companies to Singapore," said Dr Christopher Chia, CEO of MDA.

“We are indeed honored to be partnering Imagine OmniMedia and MDA in the company’s multimedia production of the reality TV show The Contender Asia. This is a significant milestone for Singapore’s efforts in promoting the media industry as one of the new growth engines of the economy, and will provide a great boost to Singapore’s image in the international arena,” said Mr Edwin Khoo, Head & Managing Director, Enterprise Banking of DBS Bank.

A talented team comprising of internationally acclaimed producer, Jerry Schafer and Emmy Award winner,  and local talents will undertake filming of the series. “There is great potential here and we hope to kickstart the exchange of knowledge and skills between the US media market and Singapore. This international team will be complemented by senior producers from Mark Burnett Productions and will ensure that the series maintains its distinct style associated with a Mark Burnett production yet infused with Asian style and insights,” concluded Mehta.

For more information on The Contender Asia, please go to www.thecontenderasia.com. For more information about Imagine OmniMedia, please go to www.imagine-omnimedia.com. 

About Imagine OmniMedia

Imagine OmniMedia is a Pan Asia media and mobile ventures company providing production, distribution, management, technology and funding to develop and implement media and mobile opportunities. The company's strategy is to take advantage of the growing market in Asia for TV viewership and mobile interactivity. With this in mind, Imagine OmniMedia works with international best of breed companies, to bring top tier media brands, concepts and formats to Asia.

About Mark Burnett Productions
Mark Burnett Productions (MBP) is a leading production company in content for both primetime television and the internet.  MBP revolutionized television with hits such as Survivor (CBS), The Apprentice (NBC), The Contender (ESPN), Rock Star: INXS (CBS), the new smash hit Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (FOX) and the co-production with Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks Television, On the Lot (FOX).  Other MBP projects in 2007 include: Pirate Master (CBS) and the 2007 MTV Movie Awards (MTV) for which Mark Burnett served as Executive Producer.   MBP also partnered with AOL in 2006 on the highly successful interactive adventure Gold Rush, the first-ever unscripted project to be produced exclusively for the internet.  In addition, MBP has established a scripted division and is developing comedies and dramas for television as well as feature films.  MBP also successfully reintroduced product placement as an integral part of each of its shows and has garnered a total of 46 Emmy nominations since 2001.             

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