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FME to launch local Grand Designs

Press release from FME

FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME), the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, and Diversified Exhibitions Australia, one of the country’s leading events companies, today announced they are launching Grand Designs Live in Australia in 2011.

The Grand Designs brand is owned by FremantleMedia and began with the hugely successful UK television show which follows the progress of self builders in pursuit of architectural brilliance. First launched on Channel 4 in the UK in 1999, Grand Designs has been a big ratings hit in Australia on both The LifeStyle Channel and the ABC where it averaged 978,034 in 2009. The show has been sold to more than 100 countries around the world including the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and throughout Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The LifeStyle Channel has commissioned an Australian version, Grand Designs Australia, hosted by leading architect Peter Maddison which is currently in production with FremantleMedia Australia and will debut on The LifeStyle Channel in the second half of 2010.

Grand Designs Live Sydney will feature over 300 of the best exhibitors from the interiors, kitchens, bathrooms, build and gardens sectors, personally vetted by a Grand Designs committee. It will be run in partnership with UK-based company Media 10 who run Grand Designs Live in London, which has become Britain’s single biggest home build, renovation and design consumer event with annual attendance growing year on year and attracting more than 100,000 visitors in 2009.

Matt Pearce, Managing Director of Diversified Exhibitions says: “Our decision to launch Grand Designs Live in Australia comes at a time when the property market is booming. House prices are beginning to rise and consumer confidence appears to be returning as more money is being spent on home renovation and improvements.

“We see this as a perfect opportunity to launch Grand Designs Live to the Australian consumer market. We are particularly excited about working with Media 10 and we believe their success with Grand Designs Live in the UK and our knowledge of the Australian market will make for a formidable partnership and deliver a truly world class event.”

Ben Liebmann, Senior Vice President, Licensing FME Australia is excited to announce Grand Designs Live as the first initiative from FremantleMedia Enterprises' new local Live Events business. "Grand Designs is already a major global brand and launching a local version here, as well as the live event provides the perfect platform from which to establish it as one of Australia's leading home and lifestyle brands. We are looking forward to working with Diversified Exhibitions and Media10 to bring this brand to life.”

Lee Newton, Director of Media 10 said “We are very excited about working with Diversified. They are arguably the biggest events company in Australia and have a fantastic reputation. Their track record of successful events within their market is outstanding. We are extremely proud to have the opportunity to take Grand Designs Live to Australia.”

Grand Designs Live will complement DesignEx and Designbuild which already form part of Diversified’s portfolio of 30 trade and consumer events that include the Good Food & Wine Show, the Australian Fitness & Health Expo and Fine Food Australia.