FremantleMedia To Control Beers' Original

The big get bigger. Reality programming giant FremantleMedia has just clinched a deal to acquire a controlling interest in Original Productions, the U.S. production company formed and led by Thom Beers. Original is known for developing male-oriented television, with shows like Ice Road Truckers, Deadliest Catch, and America’s Toughest Jobs. Both FMNA’s and Original’s broadcaster relationships will remain unchanged. So why is FremantleMedia interested in Beers’ company? “The guy is a hackadoodle. But it’s all about cash flow,” one of my reality TV insiders says.