Endemol stops producing NBC programmes

WORLD-RENOWNED Dutch television production company, Endemol, have withdrawn as producers of the new popular programmes aired by the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC).

Endemol had been producing programmes for the NBC since the beginning of the year. “After an exciting first half year, Endemol has come to the conclusion that it can take a step back in its Namibian production venture,” a statement from Endemol South Africa said yesterday.Late last year, the NBC commissioned local production company Rock Enterprises to produce new programmes.Rock Enterprises then entered into partnership with South African company RP Productions and Endemol, on the deal.Following a new contract signed between Rock Enterprises and Endemol South Africa last week, the company will now only act as consultants on the formats on which it holds intellectual property rights.Endemol South Africa Managing Director Harrie Linders told The Namibian that “we feel the NBC crew have made tremendous progress, we think they [Rock, RP Productions and NBC] can do it without us”.Together with NBC staff the consortium brought five new programmes to the air including the popular search for Namibian talent – Fame Factory.Endemol South Africa were also major players in the concept and production of other formats such as Movers and Shakers, Streetlive and What Women Want.”Endemol’s plan of stepping down and to become consultants, rather than on the ground producers, has always been an important objective and mandate in view of its empowerment policy,” the company said yesterday.Managing Director of Rock Enterprises Sebastian Kamungu told The Namibian that there was no bad blood between the parties following the new agreement.”I think we all underestimated what the challenges were going to be.We have revisited our objectives and those of our clients [NBC],” said Kamungu.He was confident that his company would be able to continue producing the rest of the series they introduced as a partnership.He added that Endemol’s new role would also have financial benefits for his company and his client, NBC, saying overheads were guaranteed to be less.Although undisclosed, Endemol’s involvement in the partnership over the past six months, is said to have cost millions.In terms of the new agreement, from now on Rock Enterprises will be required to send all programmes it produces from to Endemol for quality control.Linders said the new arrangement would allow the company to focus more on some of its big productions in South Africa, such as Project Fame which started a few weeks ago.Endemol South Africa plans to send an official on regular trips to Namibia for progress checks and to make necessary adjustments.Some of the freelance staff Endemol had brought to Namibia over the past few months to work on the NBC productions would remain as the company trusted them to maintain Endemol’s high standards.Linders denied claims that Endemol’s decision to reduce its role in Namibia had been prompted by poor facilities at the NBC.”That’s not true.At the end of the day it is whether we can deliver.It is the quality of the company that makes a product,” he said.The NBC had agreed to meet many of Endemol’s demands such as new editing facilities and studio upgrades for the five productions it introduced to the screens earlier this year.Endemol South Africa are well-known for introducing reality shows such as Big Brother, Idols and Fear Factor to Africa.”After an exciting first half year, Endemol has come to the conclusion that it can take a step back in its Namibian production venture,” a statement from Endemol South Africa said yesterday.Late last year, the NBC commissioned local production company Rock Enterprises to produce new programmes.Rock Enterprises then entered into partnership with South African company RP Productions and Endemol, on the deal.Following a new contract signed between Rock Enterprises and Endemol South Africa last week, the company will now only act as consultants on the formats on which it holds intellectual property rights.Endemol South Africa Managing Director Harrie Linders told The Namibian that “we feel the NBC crew have made tremendous progress, we think they [Rock, RP Productions and NBC] can do it without us”.Together with NBC staff the consortium brought five new programmes to the air including the popular search for Namibian talent – Fame Factory.Endemol South Africa were also major players in the concept and production of other formats such as Movers and Shakers, Streetlive and What Women Want.”Endemol’s plan of stepping down and to become consultants, rather than on the ground producers, has always been an important objective and mandate in view of its empowerment policy,” the company said yesterday.Managing Director of Rock Enterprises Sebastian Kamungu told The Namibian that there was no bad blood between the parties following the new agreement.”I think we all underestimated what the challenges were going to be.We have revisited our objectives and those of our clients [NBC],” said Kamungu.He was confident that his company would be able to continue producing the rest of the series they introduced as a partnership.He added that Endemol’s new role would also have financial benefits for his company and his client, NBC, saying overheads were guaranteed to be less.Although undisclosed, Endemol’s involvement in the partnership over the past six months, is said to have cost millions.In terms of the new agreement, from now on Rock Enterprises will be required to send all programmes it produces from to Endemol for quality control.Linders said the new arrangement would allow the company to focus more on some of its big productions in South Africa, such as Project Fame which started a few weeks ago.Endemol South Africa plans to send an official on regular trips to Namibia for progress checks and to make necessary adjustments.Some of the freelance staff Endemol had brought to Namibia over the past few months to work on the NBC productions would remain as the company trusted them to maintain Endemol’s high standards.Linders denied claims that Endemol’s decision to reduce its role in Namibia had been prompted by poor facilities at the NBC.”That’s not true.At the end of the day it is whether we can deliver.It is the quality of the company that makes a product,” he said.The NBC had agreed to meet many of Endemol’s demands such as new editing facilities and studio upgrades for the five productions it introduced to the screens earlier this year.Endemol South Africa are well-known for introducing reality shows such as Big Brother, Idols and Fear Factor to Africa.