• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, August 29, 2012

Thom Beers, who has spearheaded multiple network-defining series, will look to resuscitate a few at Fox. Beers, the mastermind behind History’s “Ice Road Truckers” and “Ax Men,” is taking over as CEO of FremantleMedia in North America.
 
The company produces “The X Factor” and “American Idol,” both of which are going through transition. Beers’ production company is owned by Fremantle.
 
Trish Kinane, the president of entertainment programming with oversight of “X Factor,” “Idol” and NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” will report to Beers along with COO Donna Redier Linsk.
 
There are challenges in differentiating singing competition shows and FremantleMedia CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz said earlier this year that there are too many of them.
 
Beers founded Original Productions in 1997 and has developed a niche in “everyday hero programming,” including shows such as Discovery’s “Deadliest Catch” and truTV’s “Black Gold.” Programming has also been produced for National Geographic Channel, A&E and Spike.
 
Frot-Coutaz stated that Beers’ Original Productions is “a dominant force” in production for cable networks’ prime-time fare.
 
Beers may find himself delving into different genres as Fremantle looks to launch scripted programming in the U.S. It recently inked a deal with Random House to co-develop shows.

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