Gurney Productions


ITV Studios buying spree to continue, US drama push planned

Kevin Lygo has told TBI that ITV Studio’s aggressive indie buying spree will continue and that the next phase will see it move into the US scripted TV market. “We’re growing significantly and, internationally, the content acquisition strategy will continue for a while,” Lygo said in an exclusive interview. Buoyed by the recent strong performance […]

ITV Studios forms US umbrella group

Paul Buccieri will lead a new ITV Studios US group that will reflect UK broadcaster ITV’s expanded stateside business. The formation of the ITV Studios US Group, which will house ITV Studios America, comes after the acquisition of US producers Thinkfactory Media, High Noon Entertainment and Gurney Productions and ITV CEO Adam Crozier’s claim that […]

VH1 tunes up LeAnn Rimes series, hires FishBowl exec

Viacom-owned cable channel VH1 has commissioned a six-part reality series following country music star LeAnn Rimes, and tapped FishBowl Worldwide Media for a new executive VP. LeAnn & Eddie (WT) will follow Rimes, who broke on to the international music scene in her early teens, and her husband, actor Eddie Cibrian. The pair have become […]

ITV continues buying spree with £12.5m-plus Big Talk deal

UK broadcaster ITV has acquired 100% of Rev and Friday Night Dinner producer Big Talk Productions in a deal potentially worth an initial £12.5 million (US$19.2 million). ITV has been stalking Big Talk for some time as it continues to aggressively beef up its production assets through acquisitions. The news follows deals in the last […]

ITV ‘tees up £90m bid’ for Scandi’s Nice

UK broadcaster ITV is reportedly set to continue its spending spree by preparing a £90 million (US$134.5 million) offer for Finland-based producer Nice Entertainment. UK newspaper the Sunday Times reported ITV is considering placing the offer for Nice, which counts Babes on the Bus and Celebrity Babysitter among its formats. FremantleMedia, Sony and Time Warner […]

ITV pays US$30m for US producer of Hatfield & McCoys

ITV has acquired a controlling stake in Thinkfactory Media, the US producer that made Hatfield & McCoys, one of the most successful shows ever on US cable TV. The UK broadcaster has paid US$30 million for a 65% stake in Thinkfactory with an option to acquire the remainder in a two-year window that opens three […]

ITV takes slice of US market with Cake Boss acquisition

UK broadcast giant ITV is acquiring a majority stake in the producer of US cable series Cake Boss, High Noon Entertainment. ITV has paid US$26.7 million upfront for a 60% stake in the company, with a top-up payment due in 2015 dependent on company performance. Furthermore, ITV has a put and call option that allows […]

ITV Studios earnings hit £100 million for first time

ITV Studios’ earnings topped £100 million (US$152 million) for the first time in its history last year, its latest financial results have revealed. The production and distribution arm of the UK broadcaster ITV, ITV Studios, grew its EBITA profit 29% year-on-year, taking the total to £107 million, according to ITV’s financial results for the year […]