Nigel Hall Appointed Global Head of TV for Syco Entertainment

Nigel Hall Appointed Global Head of TV for Syco Entertainment

LONDON, April 30, 2012/PRNewswire/ --

Simon Cowell and Charles Garland are delighted to announce that Nigel Hall has been
appointed as Global Head of TV for Syco Entertainment.



Nigel was one of the pioneers of Syco eight years ago and has helped develop The X
Factor and Britain's Got Talent, which is currently the No.1 television format in the
world, into the hugely successful brands they have become.



Nigel's appointment is an important step in securing Syco as one of the world's most
successful media companies, with creative focus at its heart.



He has been a key figure in developing recently commissioned new formats and will also
oversee plans for the development of Syco's US expansion.



Simon Cowell said: 'Nigel's earnt this role, the company now needs a global head of TV
and I am absolutely thrilled he has accepted the position. He is one of the most talented
TV executives I have ever met.'



Nigel Hall said: 'Having started at Syco eight years ago with Simon, we are now the
custodians of two of the world's most successful brands. Now, I look forward to further
enhancing our position as one of the world's leading media companies.'



Worldwide CEO Charles Garland said: 'Since my arrival last year, we have put
considerable investment into the development of new shows, with Red Or Black? being the
first of these to emerge. Nigel will spearhead this continued expansion.'



About SYCO ENTERTAINMENT



Syco Entertainment is a leading global music, television, film and digital production
company. Syco is a joint venture between Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment, with
offices in London and Los Angeles. Syco's television and music assets include leading
global franchises The X Factor and Got Talent, as well as artists such as Leona Lewis,
Susan Boyle, Il Divo, Cher Lloyd, One Direction & Labrinth.



The X Factor launched in 2004 in the UK. Airing on ITV1, The X Factor has been the
number one show in the UK for eight years, with the 2010 finale achieving a peak of 21.2
million viewers, and a 65% share. The 2011 finale, held at Wembley Arena in front of a
live audience of 12,000, was the most watched TV show of the year with a bigger audience
than the Royal Wedding. The X Factor launched in the US in the fall of 2011 on Fox,
immediately becoming the number one unscripted show of the season. The X Factor also gave
Fox victory in the November "sweep" among adults aged 18 to 49 for only the second time in
the network's history. The US version airs in 162 countries.



Local versions of The X Factor are now produced in more than 35 territories.



Around the world, The X Factor has increased the average demographic for many
broadcasters by up to 250%. In Denmark, it has been the number one show for the last four
years, peaking with an 80% share of the audience. In Colombia, it has consistently ranked
number one, with a 75% share of the audience. In countries such as Greece, Hungary, The
Netherlands, France and Italy, The X Factor consistently delivers a 50% to 65% share of
viewing audiences.



Artists discovered by The X Factor format have sold more than 100 million records
worldwide, including 110 number ones, 270 top 10 records, and 501 top 50 releases.



Got Talent launched in the USA in 2006, as America's Got Talent, reawakening the
nation's passion for variety entertainment and becoming an award-winning ratings hit
across the globe. In the US, America's Got Talent has been the highest-rated series on NBC
for the last four seasons, reaching average audiences of up to 16.4 million viewers. The
2011 series achieved the highest-rated launch of the show's six seasons so far. The US
version airs in 125 countries.



Britain's Got Talent launched in the UK in 2007, on ITV1, immediately becoming the
nation's highest-rated new entertainment programme of the year, with a peak audience of
11.6 million viewers. The show has consistently beaten ITV1's prime time average audience
by up to 120% for all viewers, and by up to 191% for young adults. A peak audience of 18.3
million viewers saw Susan Boyle finish a narrow second to dance troupe Diversity in the
2009 final of Britain's Got Talent. The event ranked as the UK's number one entertainment
programme of the decade and the highest-rated show of 2009. The 2011 series ranked as the
number one show in its time slot, beating its nearest competitor by an astonishing 500%
for all viewers.



Local versions of the show have been produced in 49 territories so far. Around the
world, China's Got Talent delivered a record-breaking 575 million viewers for the 2011
final, while Australia's Got Talent was the most watched show on Australian television in
2011. In countries such as Denmark, Norway, Sweden and The Netherlands, Got Talent has
boosted broadcasters' prime time audience shares by as much as 304%.





Source: Syco Entertainment

Media enquiries: Ann-Marie Thomson, Global Head of Media, Syco Entertainment, Ann-marie.thomson@sonymusic.com +1-310-435-1034 (US) +44(0)7849894877 (UK). Ben Todd, Head of Media UK, Syco Entertainment, Ben.todd@sonymusic.com +44(0)7792158016.


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