Tinopolis acquires US producer Base

UK independent production company Tinopolis has continued its US expansion spree with the acquisition of US producer Base Productions.

Tinipolis, which is backed by private equity firm Vitruvian and owns UK producers Mentorn, Sunset+Vine and Pioneer, has bought Base Productions, which produces series including ESPN’s Sport Science and Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files, in a deal that is reportedly worth US$65 million.

This follows its purchase of LA-based producer A. Smith & Co., which produces the US versions of Gordon Ramsay series Hell’s Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares.

Base Productions, which was founded by joint CEOs John Brenkus and Mickey Stern, is based in Burbank, California and also has an office in Washington, DC. Stern will join the Tinopolis board and will continue to run the company with Brenkus.

Tinopolis executive chairman Ron Jones said: “We have admired the company built up by John and Mickey for some time.  They have established a business based on great creativity and impressive business common sense.  Base is a producer trusted and respected throughout the industry and alongside A. Smith & Co we now have a US business with depth and breadth of coverage.”