Core Media Group


Betty founder leaving after 14 years

Liz Warner is leaving Discovery Communications-owned producer Betty 14 years after she founded the business. She exits in April and her CEO position will not be replaced, with senior management now reporting into creative director Neil Smith. A director of programmes will additionally be hired. Four years ago, Warner sold Betty to Discovery in what […]

Core’s Graboff resurfaces at Discovery

Ex-Core Media Group president Marc Graboff has joined pay TV giant Discovery Communications. Graboff (pictured left) will be president, global business and legal affairs, production management and studios – a role that includes the duties of former Discovery Studios chief Eileen O’Neill, whose exit was revealed last month. Among Graboff’s duties are day-to-day management of […]

Warner Bros. names Romano successor

Warner Bros. Entertainment has named ex-Core Media Group financial chief Kim Williams as its CFO following the move to promote long-serving Ed Romano to vice-chairman. Williams will be in charge of financial reporting, budgeting and planning for future business growth at the Burbank, Hollywood studio. Her departure from Core comes after the US-based firm merged […]

C4 boss slams US studios’ UK takeovers

Channel 4’s CEO David Abraham has slammed the growing number of US studios owning UK production companies, claiming the term “super indie” has lost its meaning as a result. In his MacTaggart speech at the Edinburgh International Television Festival last night, Abraham took aim at the Murdoch family and cable TV giant John Malone, all […]

Cohen terms comments ‘disappoint indie TV sector’

The body that represents UK indie prodcos has slammed comments from the BBC’s Danny Cohen (pictured) in which he said the pubcaster was would seek to alter terms of trade for super indie groups. The CEO of Pact, John McVay, said Cohen, the BBC’s director of television, appeared to have “misunderstood” the benefits of the […]

Fox, Apollo plan Endemol, Shine, Core merger

21st Century Fox plans to create a joint venture with fund manager Apollo Global Management that would house a combined group of Endemol, Shine and CORE Media. Fox, Apollo plan to merge three major global production companies Move would bring Big Brother, MasterChef and Idol franchises together for first time No guarantee of deal, but […]

Report: Apollo set to gain control of Endemol

Endemol shareholder Apollo Global Management has reportedly beaten co-founder John de Mol in the race to gain control of the production and distribution giant. Apollo, the US-based investment company that already owns American Idol brand owner Core Media Group, will pick up a majority of shares – around two-thirds – after striking an agreement with […]

Cable sparks a US indie M&A frenzy

The international media groups that previously drove rounds of M&A activity among indies in the UK and Europe are now focused on acquisitions in the US as the cable sector and unscripted business boom. John Hazelton looks at who’s buying what, where opportunity lies and asks who’ll be next on to board the consolidation gravy […]