Endemol buys into 51 Minds

Endemol has acquired a controlling stake of US producer 51 Minds Entertainment. The US indie produces a range of shows featuring Public Enemy rapper Flavor Flav including Flavor of Love and I Love New York.

Endemol COO Marco Bassett said the deal was in line with Endemol’s strategy of boosting its non-scripted TV output. “Endemol will continue to look for acquisitions, particularly in the area of digital media and advertiser funded/branded content,” he said.

51 Minds is an amalgamation Cris Abrego’s 51 Pictures and Mark Cronin’s Mindless Entertainment. As well as the Falvor Flav series, it has delivered a range of original programming to VH1.

Cronin said the company wants to build on its relationship with VH1 and to get series on network TV and new media platforms.