Sky acquires remaining 30% in ‘Bake Off’ creator Love Productions

The Great British Bake-Off

UK-based pay TV operator Sky has taken 100% control of Bake Off creator Love Productions.

The deal, revealed in the company’s annual accounts yesterday, was completed in February and sees Sky Ventures acquiring the remaining 30% stake in the firm it did not already own.

Sky’s first investment in Love came in 2014 when the pay operator took a 70% stake in the company, which was founded by Richard McKerrow and Anna Beattie in 2005.

That deal handed Sky’s now defunct sales arm Sky Vision distribution rights to new programming from the prodco, but not Bake Off.

Outside of the US, the hit cookery competition format is sold by BBC Studios while Love sold rights Stateside to CBS. The prodco’s format slate also includes Great British Sewing Bee, The Great Pottery Throw Down and factual shows including Channel 4’s Benefits Street.

Earlier this year, the company expanded its operations in the US by hiring Joe LaBracio and Al Edgington as co-presidents of its Stateside operation.

Sky Studios chief commercial officer Jane Millichip said: “Love Productions is a world-class production company that has continued to create popular, thought-provoking and award-winning factual and factual entertainment shows since Sky first invested in 2014.

“We are proud that Love Productions is now a wholly-owned Sky Studios company and we look forward to continuing to work with Richard and the team as we build on their continued success.” US trade Deadline first reported the news.