TEAM Entertainment, the US-German production and sales group, is to partner with France's Tele Images International and GTV to produce English-language TV movies and mini-series.

The deal sees TEAM share development and co-production costs with its French partners. Sales will then be shared out by the three companies according to territory. All projects are expected to have a US deal in place - either with a network or a cable outlet - before going into production.

The first project is a mini-series based on the life of Marie-Antoinette, the empress of France beheaded in the French Revolution. "By developing films and miniseries in English, with an appeal for an international audience, this agreement will encourage a wide range of new international projects," said Michael Jay Solomon, CEO of TEAM Communications Group. "While all new projects will be in English, they will have relevance to other cultures," he added.

TEAM, which is quoted on both the NASDAQ and Neuer Markt stockmarkets, has undergone a bruising period following the departure of its previous chief executive and a write off of $37m against its 2000 results.