Bunim Murray Productions (BMP) acquired by Talpa Media

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July 18, 2009 - 2:16pm

What do you think this means for the format of The Real World? Will Jon Murray continue to be involved on the level he has the past few seasons? [url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i5da91363c00f697ed016f757d874804f]Talpa Media moves in on Bunim/Murray[/url] [B][SIZE="4"]Talpa Media moves in on Bunim/Murray[/SIZE][/B] [B]Deal valued at around $50 million-$70 million[/B] Call it "The Real World" meets "Big Brother." John de Mol, the Dutch billionaire producer who created the globally successful format for "Big Brother," is acquiring Bunim/Murray Prods., the company behind MTV's groundbreaking reality series "Real World," through his Talpa Media company. The parties involved declined comment, but sources peg the value of the deal at $50 million-$70 million -- considered a great price for a company that owns very few of its formats. It speaks to the credentials of Jonathan Murray, who, along with his late partner, Mary-Ellis Bunim, singlehandedly createda genre of television with "Real World." Bunim-Murray's series include E!'s "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," and the company also took over production on "Project Runway" when the show moved to Lifetime, as well as its spinoff, "Models on the Runway." In 2007, Talpa Media launched Talpa Content USA, an U.S.-based outfit dedicated to developing new reality formats. The company is producing with Endemol USA the upcoming ABC unscripted series "Dating in the Dark." De Mol co-founded Endemol, the company behind such hits as "Fear Factor" and "Deal or No Deal." He sold his share in 2000 but continued as creative director until 2004. In 2007, de Mol took a stake in Endemol as part of an international consortium, but it is understood that he no longer is associated with the reality giant, instead focusing on expanding his own Talpa Media. The acquisition of Bunim-Murray falls into Talpa's plans this year to open production subsidiaries in six countries: the U.S., Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the U.K. "We will continue to invest in the development of formats," de Mol said earlier this year. "It's not my ambition to become the biggest, but I do want to be the best." It's been an active year and a half for acquisitions in the reality field, led by Shine Group's buy of Reveille and Endemol USA's purchase of a controlling stake in Cris Abrego and Mark Cronin's 51 Minds. Additionally, FremantleMedia North America acquired a 75% stake in Thom Beers' Original Prods., Tom Forman joined Relativity Media and Chris Cowan and Jean-Michel Michenaud dissolved their 11-year-old company Rocket Science to join French production powerhouse Banijay Entertainment in launching a stateside outpost.

July 18, 2009 - 2:17pm

(Reply to #1) #2

SteveSparxx

oh no. Now the Real world will begin to suck? I hate big brother. Does this mean a big brother/Real World merge. SOmeone direct me to the nearest bridge.

July 18, 2009 - 2:22pm

(Reply to #2) #3

UrbanTactics

They better not change the Real World!!! It is MTVs longest lasting series, and MTV is a pretty big channel!

July 18, 2009 - 4:20pm

(Reply to #3) #4

Anonymous

I'm so confused. What does this all mean?

July 18, 2009 - 4:23pm

(Reply to #4) #5

SteveSparxx

It means that RW and its challenges will suck after the ruins. Since Talpa will have a say in it and since they own part of 51 minds, it'll be if VH1 and MTV ran the same challenge on the same network.

July 18, 2009 - 4:28pm

(Reply to #5) #6

Anonymous

[quote=SteveSparxx;98370]It means that RW and its challenges will suck after the ruins. Since Talpa will have a say in it and since they own part of 51 minds, it'll be if VH1 and MTV ran the same challenge on the same network.[/quote] This is going to be horrible. I'm ******.

July 18, 2009 - 6:54pm

(Reply to #6) #7

iMichael

Big Brother is a great show, and I think this could be good. I can only see the challenges improving from this. The Real World may suffer a little bit, but it's a chance I'm willing to take. I think they've done a good job with BB, but they tend to play favorites.

July 18, 2009 - 7:00pm

(Reply to #7) #8

molds13

[quote=iMichael;98420] [B]The Real World may suffer a little bit,[/B] but it's a chance I'm willing to take. I think they've done a good job with BB, but they tend to play favorites.[/quote] Um...maybe you're just late to the party, but the Real World has been suffering for a little while now :)

July 18, 2009 - 7:00pm

(Reply to #8) #9

Bacchus

[QUOTE=iMichael;98420]Big Brother is a great show, and I think this could be good. I can only see the challenges improving from this.[/QUOTE] Although this is a Real World centric forum, I have a Big Brother bias. I think it is a better produced show. I hope that the people that brought BB to the world have an influence on future Real Worlds and Challenges. I think it could be a good thing!

July 18, 2009 - 7:01pm

(Reply to #9) #10

Bacchus

[QUOTE=molds13;98422]Um...maybe you're just late to the party, but the Real World has been suffering for a little while now :)[/QUOTE] I was going to say something similar, but I didn't want to gut anyone, lol. :D

July 18, 2009 - 7:20pm

(Reply to #10) #11

iMichael

[quote=molds13;98422]Um...maybe you're just late to the party, but the Real World has been suffering for a little while now :)[/quote] I feel like I'm the only one in the world...or maybe just on this forum... that loved Denver and Sydney. I'm enjoying Cancun too. I still haven't seen the second half of Brooklyn, it just didn't seem to hold my interest. Hollywood was alright but I don't think I would have liked it if he who must not be named wasn't on it. But I really think this change will be more positive than negative.

July 18, 2009 - 7:26pm

(Reply to #11) #12

molds13

[quote=iMichael;98426]I feel like I'm the only one in the world...or maybe just on this forum... that loved Denver and Sydney. I'm enjoying Cancun too. I still haven't seen the second half of Brooklyn, it just didn't seem to hold my interest. Hollywood was alright but I don't think I would have liked it if he who must not be named wasn't on it. But I really think this change will be more positive than negative.[/quote] I mean more ratings-wise than actual like or dislike of the show. I didn't mind Denver either. I agree though, I am hoping the change will be for the better.

July 18, 2009 - 7:37pm

(Reply to #12) #13

Anonymous

So is BMP no longer its own company? And I don't want Real World to become like BB. So does this mean people will be voted off the show?

July 18, 2009 - 8:13pm

(Reply to #13) #14

Stacee_Danielle

[QUOTE=Bacchus;98423]Although this is a Real World centric forum, I have a Big Brother bias. I think it is a better produced show. I hope that the people that brought BB to the world have an influence on future Real Worlds and Challenges. I think it could be a good thing![/QUOTE] Perhaps we can get a RW/BB challenge, LOL.

July 18, 2009 - 8:15pm

(Reply to #14) #15

Kimx

[QUOTE=tjhallow;98443]So is BMP no longer its own company? And I don't want Real World to become like BB. So does this mean people will be voted off the show?[/QUOTE] Correct. BMP will no longer be its own company. Because these production companies aren't publicly owned, they don't have to disclose the details of their deals so it's hard to know how Talpa Media will choose to incorporate BMP into its corporate structure. What we can assume: Strategic decisions and operations will be leveraged between the two companies. So this will include production, editing, top management, etc. Talpa will be able to influence the direction of The Real World but not change the shows format without some kind of thumbs up from MTV. What we don't know: Will BMP continue to exist with Talpa Media being its umbrella organization? We don't know the strategic long term goals of Talpa to know this yet. BMP could continue to exist as normal (but sharing certain aspects) between the companies. There's no way to tell right now. --- Personally, I think this could be a very good things for BMP as it will help trim costs and may very well breathe some new life into their programming. I'm interested to see what will occur.

July 18, 2009 - 8:16pm

(Reply to #15) #16

Kiki_

This could end up being a good thing if anything... Like others have said, RW and the challenges haven't been what they used to be for awhile now. Maybe with a new company it'll change for the better. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

July 18, 2009 - 8:18pm

(Reply to #16) #17

Anonymous

As long as the format of the Real World isn't changed I'm fine with it. So is BMP no longer called BMP? Sorry, I'm just really confused.

July 18, 2009 - 8:27pm

(Reply to #17) #18

Kimx

[QUOTE=Stacee_Danielle;98470]Perhaps we can get a RW/BB challenge, LOL.[/QUOTE] Not likely, but would be interesting. :) BMP focuses on a younger demographic than Talpa Media. I suspect Talpa wanted BMP to help diversify/expand their programming AND increase their cash flow. Just as we saw a lot of big bank mergers this past year, I expect we will see similar consolidation with production companies given the high costs of producing/researching new shows. The Real World is a classic cash cow as it currently rakes in around $1 million profit/episode. This acquisition will allow them to trim costs and increase profit to new levels, thus increasing Talpa's cash flow that they can reinvest back into a) acquiring other companies or b) developing new programming.

July 18, 2009 - 8:36pm

(Reply to #18) #19

Kimx

[QUOTE=tjhallow;98474]As long as the format of the Real World isn't changed I'm fine with it. So is BMP no longer called BMP? Sorry, I'm just really confused.[/QUOTE] We don't know yet. It depends upon how Talpa Media chooses to restructure itself post acquisition. But don't get hung up on if BMP retains its name or not, the point is that the management has changed and is now ran by Talpa Media. Does that mean the Executive Producers change? Maybe. Maybe not. Does that mean the casting directors change? Maybe. Maybe not. There are lots of questions we don't know answers too and will not know until a press release comes out or get some inside word about the restructuring.

July 18, 2009 - 9:05pm

(Reply to #19) #20

saltvinegar

I hope that all of the shows will remain the same.

July 18, 2009 - 10:19pm

(Reply to #20) #21

carlyyyx180

I hope they aren't changed either. The Real World and Challenges will still continue, right?

July 18, 2009 - 11:04pm

(Reply to #21) #22

Anonymous

[quote=carlyyyx180;98501]I hope they aren't changed either. The Real World and Challenges will still continue, right?[/quote] We have until season 21 for the challenges and season 26 for the Real World until the contracts are renewed.

July 18, 2009 - 11:11pm

(Reply to #22) #23

dplayer18

IMO, Big Brother is a very well produced show. So I can see the producers adding some interesting twists to the challenges to spice things up.

July 18, 2009 - 11:13pm

(Reply to #23) #24

Anonymous

[quote=dplayer18;98536]IMO, Big Brother is a very well produced show. So I can see the producers adding some interesting twists to the challenges to spice things up.[/quote] Ehh, I don't care about the challenges, just keep in The Real World Concept the same. Look what happened when the ****ed up Road Rules, lol. I mean with the challenges, they can only get better. A change could potentially mess up RW forever, a la Road Rules.

July 18, 2009 - 11:31pm

(Reply to #24) #25

dplayer18

True. Real World has always been about people living in a house and facing the world. Putting a "game" concept to the house may mess up the show.

July 18, 2009 - 11:36pm

(Reply to #25) #26

OtherPplsDrama

[QUOTE=dplayer18;98559]True. Real World has always been about people living in a house and facing the world. Putting a "game" concept to the house may mess up the show.[/QUOTE] You guys are assuming A LOT. Do you really think Talpa Media would want to mess much with a good thing? I'm going to try and look at it in a positive light until they prove me otherwise. I really think it's going to be the kind of change that we (as viewers) will hardly notice.

July 18, 2009 - 11:38pm

(Reply to #26) #27

carlyyyx180

[quote=OtherPplsDrama;98570]You guys are assuming A LOT. Do you really think Talpa Media would want to mess much with a good thing? I'm going to try and look at it in a positive light until they prove me otherwise. I really think it's going to be the kind of change that we (as viewers) will hardly notice.[/quote] I'm hoping that's what will happen!

July 18, 2009 - 11:39pm

(Reply to #27) #28

saltvinegar

This will not affect filming of DC, will it?

July 18, 2009 - 11:40pm

(Reply to #28) #29

OtherPplsDrama

[QUOTE=salt&vinegar;98579]This will not affect filming of DC, will it?[/QUOTE] I can't imagine how it could/would.

July 18, 2009 - 11:42pm

(Reply to #29) #30

Dartagnan

OPD, I totally agree with you. I honestly don't think they will tamper too much with something successful. And if they do, maybe it will work! We will have to wait and see.

July 18, 2009 - 11:48pm

(Reply to #30) #31

Kimx

[QUOTE=OtherPplsDrama;98570]You guys are assuming A LOT. Do you really think Talpa Media would want to mess much with a good thing? I'm going to try and look at it in a positive light until they prove me otherwise. I really think it's going to be the kind of change that we (as viewers) will hardly notice.[/QUOTE] I agree. There are a lot of assumptions being made and as I stated there's no way of knowing anything. I would love to see a Real World LIVE though...a season where we are watching as they are filming. Talpa definitely has the experience to do that. It would be an interesting change in the format for one season. PS. For the record, I don't think you're going to see any big changes to The Real World. If Talpa is smart, they will use it to increase their cash flow to a) fund new programs or b) acquire other production/entertainment companies.

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Bunim Murray Productions (BMP) acquired by Talpa Media

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