Big Mountain to bring hit show to the US

Jane Kelly and Philip McGovern of Big Mountain Productions

Dundalk-based television production company Big Mountain Productions has got one step closer to bringing RTE hit Craft Master to US audiences.

It has signed a deal with US producer North South to pitch the show to US networks. Craft Master harnesses the growing popularity of arts and crafts like Linda McKay’s millinery, knitting and loom-banding.

Big Mountain hopes to emulate the success of its show Genealogy Roadshow, whose format was snapped up by US public broadcaster PBS. The programme is now in its second season on PBS.

Big Mountain made €1.6m last year. Demand for content is booming as online providers like Netflix seek more quality programming, managing director Philip McGovern said.

Cathy Maguire nominated for Best Irish Album award

Dundalk-born singer/songwriter Cathy Maguire’s album Ireland In Song has been nominated for the Best New Irish Album award by the Irish Music Awards USA.

Produced by Gabriel Donohue at Cove Island Studios in Philadelphia, the album features some Irish favourites such as ‘Molly Malone’ and ‘Danny Boy’.

Its release coincided with a TV show on the PBS channel, explaining the backgrounds of the songs.

Other nominees in the Best New Irish CD category are Ryan Kelly and Neil Byrne with ‘Acoustically Irish’, The Screaming Orphans with ‘Sliabh Liag’ and FullSet with ‘Notes After Dark’.

Other nominees at the awards include the likes of Christy Moore, The Dubliners and Phil Coulter.

People can vote for Cathy here.

Big Mountain Productions enter into partnership with American network PBS

Jane Kelly and Philip McGovern of Big Mountain Productions

Dundalk-based company Big Mountain Productions has entered into a partnership with American network PBS which will involve the US version of the Irish format show ‘Genealogy Roadshow’ airing there from 23 September.

Big Mountain Productions will receive a 5% format fee of the overall US budget, plus consultancy and creative credits.

Husband and wife team Philip McGovern and Jane Kelly, founders of Big Mountain Productions, specialise in creating original format TV series.

A unique driver in the business is the ability to create complete format TV series that can go straight to transmission without need for pilot episodes – which is the case with Genealogy Roadshow and PBS.

First premiered on RTE1 in September 2011, Genealogy Roadshow is a described as “a next generation genealogy series that combines history and science to uncover stories of diverse Americans”.

Jane Kelly, creative director of Big Mountain Productions, said: “We’re breaking new ground here with an original format that we’ve developed and produced locally but went straight to transmission from one of the major networks in the biggest TV market in the world.

“Our company focus is very clearly set on developing shows that have universal values, have genuine transformational journeys at their core that connect with audiences so it is exciting to see that now coming to life across several markets.”

On the back of the PBS partnership, Big Mountain Productions has also agreed a new global distribution deal for with the Genealogy Roadshow with FreemantleMedia, which produces and distributes shows such as X-Factor across international markets.

FreemantleMedia will showcase the show at MIPCOM in Cannes, the most high profile global market for entertainment content, this October.

McGovern said: “There is a lot of opportunity for growth in supplying format series to international markets. Television has real longevity and the potential for Irish companies in this area is enormous – we are an Irish company with international goals so we are excited to be at the forefront of domestic innovation and the international export of Irish talent.”

Big Mountain Productions currently employs 10 full-time staff and in 2012 created 100 contract personnel positions across all its productions.

Last year the company produced 23 hours of television output for five broadcasters across three markets – Ireland, the UK and the US.

Cathy Maguire to launch new album tomorrow

Locally born singer/songwriter turned television host Cathy Maguire is to launch her new album ‘Ireland In Song’ on Friday at the New York Irish Center on Jackson Avenue.

Joining Maguire will be Musical Director Gabriel Donohue and Master of Ceremonies Donie Carroll, along with a slew of other well known musical guests. The album, containing ten classic Irish ballads sang by Maguire, is to be an official companion piece to her television show ‘Out of Ireland’, which commenced on PBS last month and is currently being shown on transatlantic Aer Lingus flights.

‘Out of Ireland’, based on an idea by Maguire herself, chronicles the Dundalk woman’s analysis of traditional, Irish songs to see where they originated from. Each episode of the five part series dissects a different song and the album ‘Ireland In Song’ was born out of the huge response from viewers to the series.