ITV inks co-pro deal with Shine

ITV Global Entertainment, the production and distribution arm of the UK commercial broadcaster has inked a wide-ranging deal with independent producer Shine that will see it launch a number of domestic and international series and formats.

ITV Studios and Shine will co-produce a number of projects for both ITV and international broadcasters, but not rival broadcasters in the UK.

This comes as ITV looks to boost annual revenues from its global content division to £1 billion (US$1.4 billion) by the end of 2012. The broadcaster had initially hoped to double such revenues to £1.2 billion but this target was slashed in June 2008. ITV has a similar deal with US studio Fox, which will see the two companies swap formats.

The two companies will decide which will produce and which will distribute on a project-by-project basis. Shine acquired Reveille last year, giving it access to a significant international distribution business.

The deal was brokered by Lee Bartlett, managing director of ITV Global Entertainment and Shine Group president Alex Mahon.