Hugh Marks and Endemol Shine co-founder, Carl Fennessy launch TV studio Dreamchaser
Former Nine Entertainment Co CEO, Hugh Marks, and co-founder and former CEO of Endemol Shine Australia, Carl Fennessy have launched a new full-service TV studio, Dreamchaser.
Dreamchaser is being labelled Australia’s “first full-service production and distribution studio based in Sydney, Australia”, with Marks and Fennessy set to serve as joint CEOs. This marks both Marks’ first permanent role since his departure from Nine last year and Fennessy’s first role since departing Endemol Shine in 2020. Fennessy was rumoured to be the frontrunner at the time to succeed Marks at Nine, ultimately losing out to Mike Sneesby for the role.
Marks and Fennessy have launched Dreamchaser
Dreamchaser is backed by Endeavor Content, the global content studio, and will produce creative partnerships across scripted, factual and entertainment genres, focused on “driving global projects out of the Australian market”.
Plans for the studio were first reported by the Sydney Morning Herald in November, though while in its very early stages, all parties declined to comment.
Today, both Marks and Fennessy said in a joint statement: “We’re seeing an explosion of global demand for premium content from new and traditional television platforms that shows no sign of slowing. At the same time Australian creatives are at the forefront of many of the biggest shows in the world. There has never been a greater opportunity for global content to be developed and sold from this market.”
“With Endeavor Content’s strategic partnership, Dreamchaser will be a unique home for our creative partners to realise all of their ambitions and for content commissioners to have confidence that Dreamchaser will be the Australian studio where those ambitions can be delivered.”
Sarah Horn joins from Endemol Shine as chief operating officer
The studio will follow a similar structure to Endeavor Content, which also operates with co-CEOs, Chris Rice and Graham Taylor. The pair said: “We are excited for Hugh and Carl to bring their combined industry expertise to launch Dreamchaser, harnessing Australia’s flourishing creative and production communities.
“With Dreamchaser, Australia solidifies its standing as a major global destination for best-in-class content, bringing next-level storytelling from new and established voices from the continent to export there and to the world beyond.”
While the set-up of joint CEOs often raises questions about its functionality, Fennessy has experience as a co-CEO, during his time at Endemol Shine Australia alongside his brother and co-founder, Mark. The pair both left in 2020 following the sale of Endemol Shine from the Walt Disney Company to Banijay. The pair also founded Crackerjack.
Endemol Shine currently produces Australian TV shows including Masterchef Australia, Married at First Sight, Australian Survivor, Lego Masters, and Big Brother.
Alongside Marks and Fennessy, Sara Horn joins as chief operating officer, Megan Rees-Williams as chief financial officer and Monique Keller as the head of development.
Horn joins from Endemol Shine, where she was managing director of production and operations. Rees-Williams also joins from Endemol Shine. She has two decades of experience as a chartered accountant, previously also working at ITV. Keller joins Dreamcatcher from Fremantle Australia, where she worked as a development executive.
“We’re grateful to the amazing and highly experienced team that have agreed to go on this journey with us,” commented the co-CEOs. “Their expertise and proven track record will help achieve Dreamchaser’s ambition of taking Australian creatives and their stories to the world.”
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Calum Jaspan was news editor at Mumbrella, based in Melbourne. He was also the producer and host of the Mumbrellacast. He left Mumbrella in May 2023.
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Carl fennessy
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Endemol Shine Australia
Hugh Marks
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