MUMBAI: Television format creator and distributor FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO) are partnering to co-develop television and digital video programming featuring contemporary lifestyle personalities.

Under this new first look and development deal, FME and MSLO will identify the next generation of lifestyle talent to star in programming to be produced under the Martha Stewart banner. FME will support the new programming with its unrivalled global TV, licensing and home entertainment capabilities. The objective is to develop a pipeline of lifestyle talent across food, fashion, home, gardening and more that will resonate with global audiences on all media platforms. FME and MSLO will name a development executive to head up the initiative.

FME?s Global CEO David Ellender said, "Martha Stewart and her team are the best in the business at discovering and developing new talent. Combining America?s best-known domestic and lifestyle expert with the industry?s most successful distributor of multi-format brands is a really exciting prospect."

MSLO president, CEO Lisa Gersh said, "FME is a key player in the global content and brand space and we?re delighted to be working with them to find the next big lifestyle superstars. They?ll help us deliver on our goal of putting our considerable expertise in everything from cooking and decor to gardening and crafting in easy reach of consumers wherever they are, and on whatever platform they?re engaging with, from smart phones and tablets to TVs and social media."

FME and MSLO have also expanded and renewed their long-standing television programming distribution deal outside of the US, which sees FME continuing to be the exclusive distributor of MSLO content around the world, including titles such as the Emmy? Award-winning series "The Martha Stewart Show" and "Martha Stewart?s Cooking School."

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Television Networks is rebranding AXN Beyond as beTV across Asia.

Beginning 2 April, the new beTV channel will feature an expanded content line-up and a new on-and-off-air look and feel, with a channel ?personality? to match.

Sony Pictures Television senior VP, GM, Networks, Asia Ricky Ow said, "We have been broadening the appeal of AXN Beyond by introducing a wider range of programming such as Pan Am, Necessary Roughness and A Gifted Man. Renaming the channel to beTV better reflects the broad general entertainment service that it offers. We believe beTV will soon become the new entertainment ?hang-out? for viewers to relax, laugh, catch up with their favourite characters and shows, or just unwind after a long day".

A slate of light entertainment programming will be added including Rob, Rob Schneider?s latest sitcom based loosely on his real-life whirlwind romance and marriage; while reality show ?I Get That A Lot? sets up celebrities like Heidi Klum, Martha Stewart, LeAnn Rimes and Jessica Simpson in everyday jobs such as wait and sales staff, with hidden cameras capturing reactions of unsuspecting customers and passers-by.

Scripted favourites such as ?Everybody Loves Raymond?,

featuring Ray Romano and Touched by an Angel starring Roma Downey and Della Reese, will be familiar additions.

beTV viewers can also continue to enjoy returning seasons of drama series including ?Sherlock? featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, sci-fi themed shows ?Teen Wolf? and ?Supernatural?, comedy dramas ?Chuck? and ?How to be a Gentleman?, along with medical drama ?Grey?s Anatomy?.

beTV will sport a logo and identity in vibrant orange complemented by a set of warm colours to offer an on-air look that is both casual and contemporary. The beTV rebrand will be seen in 15 markets including Brunei, Cambodia, Fiji, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand.