Fremantle has unveiled “Global Originals,” a stand-alone label that will be run by unscripted-format veteran Nick Mather, in a move the RTL-owned group says will turbo-charge the creation of fresh, globally scalable entertainment IP. The new unit is described as “a standalone creative hub dedicated to the creation of original formats” and will sit alongside the company’s existing network of regional labels.
Mather departs Wheelhouse, where he was chief content officer, to take up the London-based post. His career spans more than two decades and includes co-creating quiz hits such as Pointless, Tenable and Netflix’s social-deduction breakout Million Dollar Secret. While launching Possessed’s entertainment division in 2020, Mather said he was driven by “rational optimism” and a belief that “the most complete team in the business” could still find room for bold ideas—a philosophy he is expected to bring to Fremantle’s new shop.
The label arrives amid Fremantle’s wider expansion push. In April the group introduced “Fremantle Sports,” targeting premium sports documentaries and cross-platform formats; it has also rolled out specialist banners such as documentary label Undeniable and struck a three-year development deal with Eureka Studios to seed fresh IP across its footprint.
Group CEO Jennifer Mullin recently told World Screen that Fremantle’s path to a €3 billion revenue target hinges on “developing, producing and executing great content” across all genres while remaining “agile” in business models. Analysts note that parent company RTL has been exploring strategic options for Fremantle—including potential minority investment—to unlock value at a time when commissioning budgets are under pressure.
Industry observers say Global Originals gives Fremantle a dedicated engine room for paper-to-pilot ideas at a moment when networks and streamers are chasing the next mass-market entertainment franchise. The initiative also positions the company to parlay Mather’s track record—most recently at Wheelhouse’s UK arm, where he helped land ITV and BBC commissions—into worldwide format exports. As consolidation reshapes the unscripted sector, Fremantle appears intent on proving that size and creative independence can coexist under the same roof.
