- Partnership creates strong link with vibrant US and Scandinavian content pipeline
- Represents the first strategic investment in key US scripted sector
- Provides access to overall deal with leading studio and content provider, Fox Television Studios
- Delivers top-quality material for Red Arrow’s rapidly expanding distribution arm, SevenOne International
Red Arrow Entertainment Group today announced that it has agreed to terms on a new partnership with leading US scripted producer, Fuse. The deal sees Red Arrow take a majority stake in the company and marks its second major investment in the US production sector. In September 2010, Red Arrow acquired a 51% stake in entertainment format producer, Kinetic Content.
Led by Mikkel Bondesen, Fuse has rapidly built an impressive reputation in the US for delivering outstanding high-impact drama series, including USA Network’s “Burn Notice” (now in its 5th season), FOX’s “The Good Guys”, and AMC’s new hit series “The Killing”, which was adapted from the ground-breaking original Danish show “Forbrydelsen”. To take advantage of the opportunities this venture will create, Henrik Bastin has joined Fuse as a partner and CEO. Kristen Campo, who has worked at Fuse since 2007, will also become a partner.
Danish-born Mikkel Bondesen first moved to the US in 1996 and in 2003 was named in the Hollywood Reporter’s coveted “Next Generation List”. He was also named as one of the “Super-League Exports to Hollywood” by Denmark’s largest newspaper, BT. Bondesen launched Fuse in 2005, immediately scoring a huge hit with “Burn Notice” and securing a first-look deal to develop and produce with Fox Television Studios (FTVS).
Henrik Bastin is one of the most respected production executives in Swedish media, having developed more than a dozen successful TV formats and founded STO-CPH, one of Sweden’s leading TV production companies. Following the successful sale of STO-CPH, Bastin relocated to the US in 2010 and rapidly established himself in the US TV market. He executive produced “My Generation” for ABC, sold “Breakshot” to FOX and is currently Executive Producer for his reality format “Koping / Happy Hearts” for A&E.
Kristen Campo worked on FOX’s “The OC” and soon after transitioned to Director of Development at Sonar Entertainment. In 2007, she joined Fuse as VP of Development & Production and, over the last four years, has successfully set up and overseen projects at FOX, NBC, FX, A&E, AMC and Comedy Central. She recently co-produced “The Good Guys” for FOX and is currently producing “The Killing” on AMC.
Jan Frouman, Group Managing Director of Red Arrow, said: “Knowing the challenges of the US scripted market, we really took our time to find the right entry point and – most importantly – the right partners. The Fuse team boasts a fantastic combination of US and international production know-how. We expect our partnership to dramatically accelerate Red Arrow’s scripted business around the world.”
Mikkel Bondesen & Henrik Bastin added: “We have both been looking for a way to further our passion for working with the US and Scandinavia, so it was a slam dunk when we had this extraordinary opportunity to join forces with Red Arrow. The partnership fits beautifully with Fuse’s plan to deepen its already long- standing and amazing relationship with David Madden and FTVS. FTVS has pioneered alternative ways of bringing top-quality shows to the US networks and cable channels. We are grateful that this all fell into place – it’s going to be an exciting journey.”
Fox Television Studios President, David Madden, said: “With “The Killing” and “Burn Notice”, Mikkel has already brought us two of the best shows on cable television. But of course, we always long for more, and Mikkel is an equally greedy bastard. So the arrangement between Fuse and Red Arrow seems like a beautiful opportunity to expand their reach even further, and to tap European as well as American sensibilities to make globally satisfying entertainment.”