France's Banijay sets up U.S. outfit

July 07, 2009 French production powerhouse Banijay Entertainment is expanding its growing TV empire stateside with Angel City Factory, a new U.S.-based company it has launched with veteran reality producers Chris Cowan and Jean-Michel Michenaud. Meanwhile, Cowan and Michenaud have dissolved their 11-year-old company Rocket Science Laboratories, which hit it big at the beginning of the decade with the Fox hits "Temptation Island" and "Joe Millionaire." Cowan and Michenaud have strong ties to Fox, home of most of their series, including "Island," "Millionaire," "My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance," "Married by America," "Trading Spouses," "Renovate My Family" and, most recently, "Secret Millionaire," which was a co-production with RDF USA.

Subscribe to the Hollywood Reporter and see the entertainment industry from its best angle: the inside looking out. Complete access to real-time news and exclusive analysis that goes behind the scenes from film to television, home video to digital media.

   Subscribe now.