Man who created 'Big Brother' votes himself out of the company he founded
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.John de Mol, the man who brought Big Brother into the world, spawning the reality television genre, has parted from the company he founded, in a dispute with its Spanish owners.
Mr de Mol, who stepped down in June as the chairman and chief executive of Amsterdam-based Endemol to concentrate on a more creative role, is to leave the company in May. Aat Schouwenaar, the man who replaced him, will also depart. No changes are envisaged at its British arm, Endemol UK, which is headed by Peter Bazalgette and which makes Big Brother in this country, as well as Ground Force and Changing Rooms.
Behind Mr de Mol's departure is a clash between the creative and business-oriented arms of the company, sold to the Spanish telecoms group Telefonica in 2000 for €5.5bn (£3.8bn), a price some said was inflated by the success of the Big Brother concept. But Endemol, which employs 3,300 people, has struggled to match the success and there have been rumours Telefonica wanted to sell the company.
Endemol executives were said to be furious when Mr Schouwenaar, Mr de Mol's chosen successor, was replaced two weeks ago by one of Telefonica's men, Joaquim Agut, the head of its internet operation. Many observers felt the departure of Mr de Mol, 48, a former pirate radio DJ who built the company from scratch, was inevitable. Sources close to him have been reported as saying he is not interested in buying back his company.
Although Mr de Mol is credited with devising the Big Brother concept it took off only after Endemol UK executives injected into the original European format a healthy dose of tabloid television techniques. Mr de Mol franchised Big Brother and the idea has been copied and adapted, although not always successfully.
The British arm, Bazal Productions before it was bought by Mr de Mol in 1999, operates semi-autonomously and its staff are said to be relaxed about developments in Amsterdam.
A spokesman for Endemol said staff were concerned at the departure of Mr de Mol and Mr Schouwenaar. "We do not see why two experienced and creative people should be forced to depart. It is a big loss."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments