| Former type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television production Distribution Licensing Media |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Defunct | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia Melbourne, Australia |
| Products | Television |
| Owner(s) | Reg Grundy |
The Reg Grundy Organisation (later the Grundy Organisation or just Grundys, then Grundy Television) was an Australian television production company founded in 1959 by businessman Reg Grundy (born Reginald Roy Grundy). It has since branched out into Europe and the USA. The company first produced game shows, before branching into soap operas in 1973. In 1995, Reg Grundy sold the company to Pearson PLC, which has since become known as FremantleMedia and is part of the RTL Group (in turn 90% owned by Bertelsmann). In 2006 FremantleMedia merged Grundy Television and Crackerjack Productions to form FremantleMedia Australia. However, the name Grundy still exists in Germany as Grundy Light Entertainment and in Italy as Grundy Productions Italy.
Contents |
After success in radio, Grundy's first TV production was Wheel of Fortune, which launched on Nine Network in 1959. Another show with this title celebrated its 25th anniversary in Australia, a week before its cancellation in July 2006.
In the late 1980’s Reg Grundy established Grundy World Wide Limited. He created and operated local, independent television production and distribution companies in Europe, Asia and North and South America.
FremantleMedia (then Pearson Television) acquired the Grundy group of companies in 1995. On 30 August 2006, FremantleMedia announced they would merge Grundy Television with their other Australian production company, Crackerjack Productions, to form a single 'super' production company called "FremantleMedia Australia". The new company is now managed by the management team from Crackerjack, with Mark Fennessy as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and his brother Carl Fennessy as Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Simon Spalding (FremantleMedia Director of Asia Pacific Operations) said in an interview that Grundy Television's premises in Sydney are to be refurbished and that once complete, all Sydney based staff will be located there. He claims that this will help to create a 'deeper' production facility and is not a cost cutting exercise. Spalding also said that although the Grundy name would be disappearing, he was looking at how FremantleMedia could retain the Grundy name and the heritage associated with it. One compromise re-brand mooted by die-hard Grundy nostalgics is "FremantleGrundles Australia".
The company had several divisions in other countries:
Produced by Grundy Television (*)