ABC’s ‘Idol’ Producers Defend Costs, Seacrest

TV’s former ‘Death Star’ gets Disney’s playbook and surprisingly strong ad sales as it returns for a reboot with its venerable host facing a harassment claim.

Cecile Frot-Coutaz Named FremantleMedia CEO

Fremantle CEO: ‘X Factor’ To Get Makeover

As significant changes are coming to The X Factor this fall, a top executive involved in production suggested the Fox show needs to be more distinctive from the other talent competition series. “Our job for the next season is to really figure out what’s different about X Factor,” said Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of FremantleMedia North America.

NATPE 2012

NATPE Names Four Tartikoff Legacy Winners

Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Fernando Gaitán, Dennis Swanson and Matthew Weiner will be honored in Miami at January’s conference.