Endemol USA
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television production |
| Predecessor | Shine Americas, Shine USA, Reveille Productions |
| Founded | March 15, 2012 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | United States, international |
| Products | Scripted and unscripted television and digital content |
| Parent | Banijay Entertainment |
Endemol Shine North America (branded as EndemolShine NorthAmerica) serves as the United States branch of Banijay Entertainment. It was established on March 15, 2012, following the consolidation of Shine Americas, Shine USA, and Reveille Productions.
The company specializes in producing and distributing both scripted and unscripted television and digital content through its global division, Shine 360˚. Its catalog features original shows such as The Biggest Loser, Tabatha Takes Over, and The Face. Additionally, it adapts Shine Group formats including MasterChef, Minute to Win It, and The Office. The firm also creates digital series for platforms like MSN, Yahoo!, and YouTube premium channels. Through Banijay Rights, it distributes its content to an audience spanning over 150 countries.
History
Endemol Shine North America traces its origins back to Reveille Productions, which was founded by Ben Silverman on March 21, 2002, in Los Angeles under USA Entertainment, a division of Vivendi Universal (now NBCUniversal). The company's inaugural production was the reality show The Restaurant.
In November 2007, after Silverman assumed the role of chairman at NBC Entertainment, Shine Group negotiated the acquisition of Reveille Productions for $125 million to broaden its presence in the U.S. market. This transaction finalized in February 2008, marking Reveille as Shine Group’s initial U.S. subsidiary; concurrently, its distribution branch was renamed ShineReveille International. That same year, ShineReveille International formed a partnership with Merv Griffin Entertainment to handle international distribution of MGE's programming.
By March 2012, Shine Group streamlined its American operations by merging Reveille Productions with Shine Americas and Shine USA into one consolidated company called Shine America. Shortly thereafter, Shine America introduced Ardaban, a division dedicated to developing entertainment formats for both domestic and international markets, led by Chachi Senior, formerly co-president of Notional.
In June 2012, Shine America forged a digital content alliance with EMJAG Digital Productions and New Regency, collaborating on co-production and co-financing projects under a first-look agreement.
Expanding into Spanish-language programming in January 2013, Shine America launched Shine Hispanic & Latin America. Christina Palaco, founder of BE-TV, was appointed president to oversee the creation of Spanish-language scripted and unscripted content.
Endemol USA
Located in Los Angeles, California, Endemol USA has functioned as the American division of Endemol since 2000. It is responsible for producing widely recognized international formats tailored for leading U.S. broadcasters. Among its notable projects are Fear Factor, Deal or No Deal, and 1 vs. 100 for NBC; Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Show Me the Money, and Wipeout for ABC; as well as Big Brother and Kid Nation for CBS. The company also delivers content to networks such as MTV, TBS, and Game Show Network. Standout achievements include the highly rated and market-influential programs Deal or No Deal and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Although Fear Factor ended after six seasons, NBC revived it in 2011, followed by a subsequent reboot on MTV in 2017. Among Endemol USA’s most globally successful franchises remains Big Brother.
Endemol USA has also ventured into interactive television with formats like Midnight Money Madness on TBS, which was based on their Participation TV concept but had a brief run. Additional game show offerings include NBC’s 1 vs. 100, hosted by Bob Saget, and ABC’s Show Me the Money featuring William Shatner; both debuted in 2006 but lasted only briefly. The syndicated edition of Deal or No Deal was broadcast from 2008 to 2010, followed by a revival on CNBC in 2018. ABC aired Wipeout from 2008 until 2015, though the show encountered legal disputes initiated by Tokyo Broadcasting System concerning format similarities.
In scripted content, Endemol USA broadened its scope by acquiring distribution rights for TV Land’s sitcom Hot in Cleveland in 2010, marking its first scripted series produced within the United States. This expansion also included rights to other TV Land programs such as Happily Divorced and The Exes. The company further diversified into non-reality genres in 2011 with productions like the syndicated talk/variety series The Steve Harvey Show, which lasted five seasons, alongside the ABC crime drama Red Widow.
Endemol USA Latino, based in Miami, Florida, caters specifically to Hispanic audiences with Spanish-language adaptations such as Vas o No Vas, a localized version of Deal or No Deal for Telemundo.
The corporate framework of Endemol USA encompasses ownership of True Entertainment and controlling interests in unscripted content producers Authentic Entertainment, 51 Minds Entertainment, and Original Media. At the 2015 Digital Content NewFronts event, Endemol Beyond introduced new digital channels Looksy and Smasher, thereby broadening its digital media offerings.
Authentic Entertainment, LLC
On August 10, 2010, Endemol B.V., through Endemol North America, secured a majority ownership stake in Authentic Entertainment Inc., with the acquisition valued at approximately US$60–70 million.
Truly Original
Operating via its New York City-based subsidiary True Entertainment, Truly Original creates unscripted television shows including titles like The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Catch It Keep It, A Baby Story, Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?, and Fashion Queens.
Established in 2000 by Steven Weinstock and Glenda Hersh—former executives from The New York Times' NYT Television—True Entertainment expanded its portfolio by acquiring Original Media in 2014. Original Media was founded in 2002 by Charlie Corwin and Clara Markowicz.
In 2003, Endemol purchased a 51% stake in True Entertainment, which continued to operate under Hersh and Weinstock’s leadership. The merger between True Entertainment and Original Media in 2017 resulted in the formation of Truly Original, strengthening its position within the reality television market and broadening its production slate.
2014–present
In May 2014, Shine Group, the parent company of Shine America, and 21st Century Fox initiated exclusive discussions with Apollo Global Management, which owns Dutch-based Endemol (including Endemol North America) and American CORE Media Group, aiming to merge these companies into a single global production and distribution joint venture.
By September 2014, following Apollo's proposed partnership with CORE Media and Shine Group, Endemol USA incorporated CORE Media Group's management operations. The following month, 21st Century Fox and Apollo completed the integration of Endemol, Shine Group, and CORE Media into one consolidated worldwide production and distribution entity.
Soon thereafter, Cris Abrego and Charlie Corwin were named co-chairmen overseeing the merged company's North American division. This merger also united Endemol Shine America with Endemol USA to create Endemol Shine North America.
In January 2017, Endemol Shine North America merged its New York-based studios True Entertainment and Original Media into a single unscripted reality label called Truly Original, led by its founders Glenda Hersh and Steven Weinstock.
By June 2017, the firm shut down its digital studio Endemol Shine Beyond USA, folding digital content creation into existing studios. Later in November 2017, Endemol Shine Latino combined forces with Mexico City’s Boomdog to form Endemol Shine Boomdog, under the leadership of Boomdog CEO Alejandro Rincon.
Former subsidiaries
- Ardaban: Established in March 2012 by Shine America with former Notional Co-president Chachi Senior as CEO; Cleve Keller joined in September 2012 as Chief Development Officer.
- Shine Hispanic & Latin America: Founded in January 2013 with Cristina Palacio serving as president to broaden Shine Group’s footprint in Spanish-language markets.
Current
- Big Brother (Produced in partnership with Fly on the Wall Entertainment)
- Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (Co-produced alongside Hello Sunshine and Walt Disney Television Alternative)
- La casa de los famosos
- LEGO Masters
- MasterChef and MasterChef Junior (Co-produced by One Potato Two Potato)
- The Wall (Produced jointly with CORE Media Group)
- Mirror's Edge (Currently in production or potentially cancelled; licensed by Electronic Arts and EA DICE)
Former
| Year | Program | Network | Co-producers | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Coupling | NBC | BBC Worldwide Americas, NBC Universal Television | Cancelled after four episodes |
| 2004 | $25 Million Dollar Hoax | NBC | Completed its run | |
| 2004 | The Biggest Loser | NBC | 3Ball Productions, Eyeworks USA, Twenty Five Seven Entertainment | Concluded in 2016 |
| 2004 | Blow Out | Bravo | Bravo Originals | Ended in 2006 |
| 2004 | Date My Mom | MTV | MTV Production Development | |
| 2005 | 30 Days | FX | FX Productions | Cancelled after third season in 2008 |
| 2008 | American Gladiators | NBC | MGM Television | Planned third season was cancelled |
| 2019 | The Masked Singer | FOX | Smart Dog Media | Production shifted to Fox Alternative Entertainment after season one |
| 2023 | Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge | NBC | Mattel Television, Workerbee TV | Cancelled following one season |
| 2024 | The Summit | CBS | Cancelled after one season |
Other past productions include titles such as Billion Dollar Buyer, Do Not Disturb, The Face, Family Food Fight, Gigantic, House of Boateng, Hunted, Identity, I'm Dying Up Here, Kath & Kim, Kingdom, Kung Faux, Little Britain USA, Minuto Para Ganar, My Problem with Women, Nashville Star, The Office, Parental Control, Restaurant Startup, Rhett and Link: Commercial Kings, Riot, Shear Genius, Steve Harvey, Tabatha Takes Over, Top Gear USA (Seasons one and two), The Tudors, and Ugly Betty.
Shine America
- Gracepoint
- Restaurant Startup
- Fake Off
- MasterChef (FOX)
- MasterChef Junior
- The Bridge
- The Biggest Loser
- One Born Every Minute
- Ugly Betty
- The Tudors
- Nashville Star
- The Buried Life
- Kath & Kim
- Commercial Kings
- American Gladiators
- Parental Control
International distribution
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- Banijay
- Mass media companies established in 2002
- American companies established in 2002
- Television production companies of the United States
- Companies based in Los Angeles
- 2002 establishments in California
- Peabody Award winners
- Former Vivendi subsidiaries
- American subsidiaries of foreign companies
- 2008 mergers and acquisitions
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment
- American companies established in 2000