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STV PRODUCTIONS ACQUIRES MAJORITY STAKE IN AWARD WINNING UNSCRIPTED PRODUCER PRIMAL MEDIA
26 June 2019
STV Productions has acquired a majority stake in innovative unscripted producer Primal Media. The deal will enable STV Productions to realise full value from Primal Media's current and future programming slate. This includes current comedy series Jerk for BBC3 and two new programmes, both currently in production, for Channel 4.
Founded in 2016 by Adam Wood and Mat Steiner, Primal Media is behind a range of successful formats including RTS Award winning Release the Hounds for ITV2, Rose D'Or winning Bigheads for ITV and Carnage for Sky One. Before Primal Media, Wood and Steiner developed and exec produced hugely successful formats including Cash Cab (over 5,000 episodes worldwide), Gamesmaster (seven series for Channel 4) and international hit, Survivor.
The acquisition follows the announcement earlier this year of a strategic partnership between both companies to co-develop formats to target UK and international networks and is the latest step in STV's ambitious plans to grow STV Productions into a world-class production company with a multi-genre slate of returning series under the leadership of managing director, David Mortimer.
Under the terms of the deal, Lionsgate, the previous majority investor in Primal Media will retain a minority stake in the business, with the founders holding the remaining equity.
STV Productions already has an established track record of success in entertainment as producer of seven series of Catchphrase for ITV, game shows And They're Off...for Sport Relief for BBC One and Babushka for ITV Daytime, several series of Safeword for ITV and MTV/VH1 in the US, as well as The Dressing Room for UKTV's entertainment channel W, and Sex Tape, a four-part relationship series recently aired on Channel 4.
David Mortimer, Managing Director of STV Productions, said: "I am delighted to forge a closer relationship with Primal Media, which complements the strong track record in entertainment we have thanks to the work of Gary Chippington and his team. I've known Adam and Mat for many years and have always thought of them as two of the UK's most talented entertainment producers.
"I'm looking forward to working on bringing some really ambitious unscripted projects to screen with them and their fantastic team."
Adam Wood, Joint Managing Director of Primal Media, said: "When we started talking to David about a regional partnership earlier this year, it quickly became apparent that our goals and strategies for growing Primal were very closely aligned. We are delighted that this relationship has rapidly developed and now look forward to creating new hit shows."
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For further information, please contact the STV press office:-
Katie Martin
0141 300 3109
[email protected]
Notes to editors
STV Productions
STV Productions is one of the UK's leading content businesses with ambitious plans for domestic and international growth and was recently confirmed as Scotland's biggest indie.
The company, led by award-winning executive David Mortimer, has an impressive track-record of success across genres including drama, entertainment and factual, with commissions from a wide range of broadcasters.
Eighteen series of ratings winner Antiques Road Trip have been produced for the BBC along with eight series of sister programme Celebrity Antiques Road Trip. A further two series of Antiques Road Trip and a ninth series of Celebrity Antiques Road Trip have been commissioned for production in 2019.
In entertainment, the company has produced seven series of Catchphrase for ITV, game shows And They're Off...for Sport Relief for BBC One and Babushka for ITV Daytime, two series of Safeword for ITV - with a two series remake for VHI/MTV in the US, as well as The Dressing Room for UKTV's entertainment channel W. Sex Tape, a four-part relationship series recently aired on Channel 4.
STV Productions has a track record of producing quality drama, with critically-acclaimed four-part thriller The Victim for BBC One, starring Kelly Macdonald and John Hannah, watched by more than 7.2 million people. STV Productions has also confirmed a second BBC drama commission - Elizabeth is Missing, adapted from Emma Healey's novel. Previous drama productions include Taggart and Rebus for ITV.
Highlights among factual series and specials include Britain's Polar Bear Cub for Channel 4, two series of Prison: First & Last 24 Hours for Sky1, Ross Kemp Behind Bars - Inside Barlinnie for ITV, Scotland and the Battle for Britain presented by Andrew Marr for BBC Two, Fire in the Night, an award winning feature documentary to mark the 25th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster, Tutankhamun: The Truth Uncovered for BBC1, Smithsonian Channel and Discovery Canada, as well as documentary series Yes/No - Inside The Indyref and Inside Central Station for the BBC Scotland channel.
STV Productions works with a number of leading international sales agents that distribute its programmes and formats outside the UK. The company's partnership with Sky Vision covers international distribution of STV Productions' unscripted catalogue as well as a global distribution deal for BBC drama, The Victim.
