DAVID LYLE
Executive Producer
Co-Founder / Chair, Format Recognition & Protection Association
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David Lyle has created and produced more than 1000 hours of non-scripted television programming around the world in his 25-year career. He is about to open the doors of a new international development, production and distribution company, headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in London that will emanate into the entire European market and Australia, where many internationally successful formats are born. Until February 2004, Lyle was President of entertainment and drama at FremantleMedia North America (FMNA), where he oversaw the team that produced and/or co-produced “American Idol” (Fox), “World Idol” (Fox), Oliver’s Twist with Jamie Oliver (Food Network), “Date Patrol” (TLC), “The Price is Right,” “The Swan” (Fox), and numerous other reality shows. FMNA owns the international rights to the Idol franchise. With “American Idol,” Lyle was integral in taking product placement and interactive audience engagement to a new level, introducing text messaging to a broad U.S. audience. With “World Idol,” he pioneered the simultaneous production and broadcast of a multi-part reality special in more than one dozen markets around the world. Lyle, working with co-executive Cecile Frot-Coutaz, was responsible for turning around FMNA’s business. He restructured and refocused the company, providing broadcasters with primetime, non-scripted rating winners and increasing internal profits fourfold by outsourcing the company’s syndicated business and bringing in talent in the non-scripted arena. Lyle began his career writing, producing and ultimately executive producing top-rated reality programming in Australia, from satirical news and special events, to game shows, to lifestyle and late night talk programs. In 1988, he was named head of development and acquisition at Australia’s Channel Nine, where he was one of the first broadcasters outside of Britain to import and produce reality programming (Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and “Changing Homes” aka “Trading Space”) and created numerous long-running series that established lifestyle infotainment on Australian primetime television. In 1999, Pearson Television, London, named Lyle worldwide head of acquisition and development. At Pearson, Lyle worked with territory heads in more than two-dozen production centers around the world to produce and sell more than 650 hours of new television. Lyle invigorated the company by bringing in fresh creative talent and acquiring new formats that foresaw the impending reality boom. Lyle came to Pearson TV (renamed FMNA) in the US in 2001 as senior VP/development and was elevated to President later the same year. David Lyle Page 2 In addition, Lyle spearheaded the founding of and Chairs FRAPA, (Format Recognition and Protection Association) an international association of industry leaders in the format marketplace. FRAPA promotes the idea that formats contain unique intellectual property; agitates for their protection through custom and through legislation; and mediates disagreements between format producers outside the court system. While FRAPA works towards influencing lawmakers to adopt copyright laws and fair trade practices, first in Germany (where the organization is headquartered) and then in the EU, it has also successfully mediated disputes between producers.