MAGICIAN MAT FRANCO RETURNS TO NBC FOR PAIR OF PRIMETIME SPECIALS

"Mat Franco's Got Magic" produced by Fremantlemedia North America, Showcases the Incredible Journey of the "America's Got Talent" Champ as He Prepares to Headline His Own Las Vegas Show

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - April 2, 2015 - Magician Mat Franco, who last year rose above tens of thousands of acts to become the season 9 winner of NBC's hit reality-competition series "America's Got Talent," is returning to the network for two primetime specials.

Titled "Mat Franco's Got Magic" the specials will capture Mat traveling from his home in Rhode Island to Las Vegas, stopping off at incredible locations, wowing celebrities, performing street magic and visiting the family, friends and everyday Americans who helped make his dream come true. When he reaches his final destination, Mat will learn what it takes to put on a high-profile show and fulfill his dreams of becoming a headlining act in Las Vegas at the LINQ Hotel & Casino.

"Mat displayed remarkable skill in winning the most recent season of 'America's Got Talent,' and we're thrilled that these specials will document his new journey opening a show in Las Vegas," said Paul Telegdy, President, Alternative and Late Night Programming, NBC Entertainment.

Toby Gorman, EVP, Alternative Programming, FremantleMedia North America and Executive Producer, "Mat Franco's Got Magic" said, "Mat is an incredibly dynamic and talented magician and he fascinated us all as he rose to the top on "AGT." We're delighted to be working with him again, and taking audiences across America on a journey of magic and imagination."

"I grew up watching magic specials on NBC, so this opportunity is just so exciting and beyond my craziest dreams. I'm thrilled and honored to have the chance to bring magic back to primetime major network television," said Franco.

Mat is the first and only magician to win NBC's "America's Got Talent." Almost entirely self-taught, the 26-year-old Rhode Island native began developing his own shows before the age of 10 and took the stage at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas by the time he was 15. Mat's headlining show in Las Vegas will take place at the LINQ Hotel & Casino and feature his signature improvisation-fueled and humor-laced performance style, partly honed through his years as a hugely in-demand college act.

"Mat Franco's Got Magic" is produced by FremantleMedia North America and Syco Entertainment and distributed internationally by FremantleMedia International. Executive producers are Thom Beers, Toby Gorman and Sean Hancock.

About FremantleMedia North America

FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. arm of global media giant FremantleMedia, which includes a distribution arm, FremantleMedia International, a digital and branded entertainment division and a kids & family entertainment business. As one of the world's largest and most successful creators, producers and distributors of TV brands in the world, FremantleMedia's comprehensive global network has operations in 28 countries, creating over 8500 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 400 individual titles. The company also distributes more than 20,000 hours of content in over 200 territories. FMNA and its portfolio of companies, including Original Productions and 495 Productions, produce entertaining and innovative scripted and alternative programs for network, cable, syndicated and online platforms. Their slate includes a diverse range of both critically-acclaimed and award-winning successes including American Idol (FOX), America's Got Talent (NBC), Mat Franco - America's Magician (NBC), Family Feud (SYN), Let's Make A Deal (CBS), The Price Is Right (CBS), The Great Christmas Light Fight (ABC), Deadliest Catch (Discovery), Married to Medicine (Bravo), Party Down South (CMT), Ice Road Truckers (HISTORY), Storage Wars (A&E), The Returned (A&E) and Celebrity Name Game (SYN), among others.