Post by Forever Xena on Aug 28, 2005 22:26:32 GMT -6
Supernanny meets Wife Swap? Reality TV firms discuss tie-up
Jason Deans
Friday August 26, 2005
The Guardian
Ricochet, the independent producer behind the reality hit Supernanny, has called in City consultants Ingenious Media as it considers its options for growth.
The Brighton-based firm is also understood to have held informal talks with a number of other independent producers, including RDF Media, the company responsible for Wife Swap, about a possible merger or other corporate tie-ups.
Aside from merging with another independent producer, Ricochet could follow in the footsteps of RDF and Shed, the company responsible for Bad Girls and Footballers' Wives, and float on the Alternative Investment Market.
Ingenious Media advised RDF and Shed on their successful flotations this year.
The media specialist also advised independent producer Hat Trick when it sold a 45% stake to Kleinwort Capital, a private equity firm, for £23m in 2003. In 2002, it advised Robbie Williams on his ground-breaking joint-venture deal with UK music group EMI.
The managing director of Ricochet, Nick Powell, confirmed he had been talking to Ingenious Media, but said it was too soon to say what the outcome would be.
In addition to Supernanny, a hit for Channel 4 and for ABC in the United States, Ricochet's output includes lifestyle shows Risking It All, Selling Houses and No Going Back.
Independent production companies are back in favour with the City after the introduction of new terms of trade to regulate the relationship between programme makers and broadcasters such as the BBC and ITV.
Under the new rules, production outfits have control of the secondary and overseas rights to their programmes, opening up a potentially lucrative line of revenue.
The UK, with about 1,000 production companies, is expected to see more consolidation. All3Media, maker of Midsomer Murders, has been the busiest consolidator. It became Britain's largest independent producer in June with the takeover of Mersey TV, maker of Grange Hill
Jason Deans
Friday August 26, 2005
The Guardian
Ricochet, the independent producer behind the reality hit Supernanny, has called in City consultants Ingenious Media as it considers its options for growth.
The Brighton-based firm is also understood to have held informal talks with a number of other independent producers, including RDF Media, the company responsible for Wife Swap, about a possible merger or other corporate tie-ups.
Aside from merging with another independent producer, Ricochet could follow in the footsteps of RDF and Shed, the company responsible for Bad Girls and Footballers' Wives, and float on the Alternative Investment Market.
Ingenious Media advised RDF and Shed on their successful flotations this year.
The media specialist also advised independent producer Hat Trick when it sold a 45% stake to Kleinwort Capital, a private equity firm, for £23m in 2003. In 2002, it advised Robbie Williams on his ground-breaking joint-venture deal with UK music group EMI.
The managing director of Ricochet, Nick Powell, confirmed he had been talking to Ingenious Media, but said it was too soon to say what the outcome would be.
In addition to Supernanny, a hit for Channel 4 and for ABC in the United States, Ricochet's output includes lifestyle shows Risking It All, Selling Houses and No Going Back.
Independent production companies are back in favour with the City after the introduction of new terms of trade to regulate the relationship between programme makers and broadcasters such as the BBC and ITV.
Under the new rules, production outfits have control of the secondary and overseas rights to their programmes, opening up a potentially lucrative line of revenue.
The UK, with about 1,000 production companies, is expected to see more consolidation. All3Media, maker of Midsomer Murders, has been the busiest consolidator. It became Britain's largest independent producer in June with the takeover of Mersey TV, maker of Grange Hill