ITN rejigs in shift from news to production

UK news producer ITN Productions is restructuring to focus on production, with Mark Browning leading a new division that will target new US business.

ITN, which supplies news to three UK commercial broadcasters, will divide its business along two lines, Broadcast News and indie arm ITN Productions.

The restructure sees managing director Mark Browning leading ITN Productions in the newly-created role of group MD. He will report to ITN CEO John Hardie.

ITN Productions will comprise four divisions: TV production, sports production, advertising production and digital content services.

Editorial director Chris Shaw will oversee the TV production division, which has produced programming for most major UK broadcasters and Discovery Networks and A+E in the US.

Head of international programmes Ian Russell, who joined in 2014, will work under Shaw, managing all international commissions, a spokesperson told TBI.

Hardie wants ITN achieving £180 million (US$256.3 million) in revenue by 2020, with plans to increase business in the US “five-fold” over the next four years to generate 10% of company revenues there.

He also wants more than 50% of ITN’s revenues organically coming from outside the core news production operation by the close of the same period.

“ITN is evolving from a position of strength and the opportunities are there for the taking,” said Hardie. “After achieving record revenue in the last financial year and six successive years of sustained operating profit growth, we are well placed to build upon that momentum.”

ITN Productions already ranks as a major indie in the UK market, producing various documentaries and unscripted series. Formed in 2010 with revenues of £7 million, it now takes sales of £24 million and is “growing fast”.

“Our numbers tell the story of our success, with revenues up 25% on 2010,” said Hardie. “The 2020 Vision growth plan sets the bar even higher to release the incredible potential that I am confident ITN can achieve as a world-class production company.”