Broadcaster also said to be in talks with presenters Ant and Dec as it looks at a range of investment options
ITV is exploring a tie-up with the production company owned by two of its biggest stars, Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, and a rival outfit owned by one of the BBC's most popular presenters, Graham Norton.
McPartlin and Donnelly's Gallowgate and Norton's So Television have been targeted as ITV looks at investment options to boost its in-house production arm, ITV Studios. The broadcaster is said to be looking at buying a stake in one or both of the companies, or buying them outright.
"They were very close to reaching a deal a while back. The talks have been going on for at least six months," said a source familiar with the negotiations. "There are talks with other companies going on but these are the main ones."
So Television was founded by Norton and producer Graham Stuart 11 years ago. The company makes the talkshow host's Graham Norton Show, aired on Friday nights on BBC1. It would be unusual but not unprecedented for an ITV-owned production company to make shows for the BBC; others include University Challenge and the Royle Family.
Gallowgate, founded in 2004 as a vehicle to produce Ant and Dec shows including ITV1 hit Saturday Night Takeaway, is rather closer to home. It also produces Vernon Kay's ITV1 quiz Beat The Star. The company made a loss of �358,000 in the year to 31 March 2010, according to abbreviated accounts filed at Companies House.
Industry observers said a deal with Gallowgate made sense as it would give ITV more control over formats that are developed featuring the two stars.
So Television's relationship with the BBC is also seen as potentially valuable for the development of ITV Studios.
Pre-tax profits at So Television increased by 9% to �629,000 in the year to 31 July 2010, according to accounts filed at Companies House. Norton was paid a �500,000 dividend and �1.5m in "production fees and royalties". "It makes perfect sense, there is kudos for effectively having BBC1 shows made by ITV Studios and the BBC is rich prime-time soil [for impressing buyers] when it comes to overseas sales," said a source.
ITV chief executive Adam Crozier has made revitalising the broadcaster's in-house TV production operation, which makes shows including Coronation Street for ITV1 and Channel 4 hit Come Dine With Me, a top priority and has access to �1bn of cash to make investments.
ITV was previously linked with a deal to buy All3Media, maker of shows including ITV's Midsomer Murders and Channel 4 dramas Skins and Shameless. But the prospect of a deal, likely to cost more than �700m, receded last month and the broadcaster is now pursuing a number of smaller acquisitions or investments.
ITV declined to comment. Gallowgate and So Television were unavailable for comment.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/may/22/itv-eyes-norton-production-deal
Soap opera Iran Christmas Northern Ireland Wales Global terrorism
No comments:
Post a Comment