Rights.tv buys content finance firm, hires UKTV exec

UK-based production consultancy Rights.tv has acquired independent financing company Anian and hired a UKTV business affairs head to run its scripted content work.

Anian assists producers in raising grants and funding from public and private sources such as the EU Media Fund, and advises on unlocking tax credits from territories such as Canada, Australia and Europe.

It has secured more than £1.5 million (US$2.5 million) in the past year for series such as BBC, Fiction Fatcory, All3Media and S4C cop drama Hinterland. Other clients include Lime Pictures, Bedlam Productions and October Films.

Andrew Baker, managing director of Compact Media Group-owned Rights.tv said: “Anian provides a unique service to producers to raise non-broadcast funding for both development and production and already advises some of the UK’s most successful producers.”

Former Welsh indie producers body boss Gwion Owain founded Anian. He claims many producers are unaware of the “large number of media and technology funds available” and often “do not have the time or expertise to access them”.

Rights.tv’s Baker added: “We have worked with Gwion on a number of projects and acquiring Anian will support our strategy of offering end-to-end advice on everything from securing funding to business affairs advice on production and exploitation.”

In further news, Rights.tv has hired Angela Amanchukwu as head of scripted. She joins from UK multi-channel broadcaster UKTV, where she is currently its lead lawyer and legal and business affairs manager.

Based in Rights.tv’s London office, she will join Rights.tv’s scripted team to support drama and scripted comedy producers and talent, with clients including Rough Cut Productions, Little Comet Productions, Met Films, Raw Films and Island Films.