Power to rebrand and move deeper into factual programming

UK based producer and distributor Power is preparing to rebrand and introduce a new name. Danny Goldman, who has been running Power since joining from Sony Pictures Television in January, told TBIvision that the company will also move more heavily into selling factual programming, with new distribution deals with third parties in place by MIPCOM.

“We want Power to be a high-class distributor of all forms of content,” Goldman said. “In the past there has been a particular association with TV movies and miniseries, but we are now trying to communicate the fact that we have the distribution infrastructure to license content across all genres. We want to signify that the company is re-energised, reinvigorated and diversifying in to new areas.”

Goldman would not disclose the new brand for Power but it is understood that it will be introduced when the company moves out of administration, which is likely to happen in the near future.

Power is now owned by Sabido, the South African media holding company that is run by Marcel Golding and which also owns South African free-to-air station e.tv., and it started shopping some of Sabido’s factual programming at MIP TV.

Looking ahead, it will start to sell other producer’s content from all sections of the factual genre including wildlife, history and fact-ent programming. Power will contribute funding in return for international rights and Goldman expects to have new, third-party titles in the catalogue in time for MIPCOM.

There will still, however, be a focus on TV movies and miniseries. Power is working closely with RHI Entertainment, another company known for TV movies and miniseries that has weathered tough times, and the pair are coproducing three miniseries based on Alistair Maclean novels, the first of which will be cyber terrorism miniseries Blackout, which delivers at the end of 2011.

Power is also talking to possible production partners in the UK and Ireland about another Alistair Maclean title, Puppet on a Chain, which will also be made into a miniseries.