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Shed Media Plc today announces final results for the sixteen months ended 31 December 2007. Click HERE to download a copy.
Shed Media plc is pleased to announce the following new business in the US for both Ricochet and Wall to Wall.
- ABC re-commission Ricochet for fifth season of Supernanny USA 13x60 mins
- Wall to Wall is casting for 6x60 mins of Who Do You Think You Are? For a
major US network
The early re-commission of Supernanny is the result of the show's excellent performance in its new slot up against American Idol in the ABC primetime schedule. Superanny boosted the Network's audience by 3.2 million viewers year on year representing a 60% increase in the critical 18-49 year old audience. The order will take the Supernanny episode count to 82 hours which greatly strengthens its prospects in the lucrative US syndication market.
A major US network has commissioned Wall to Wall to develop and cast six episodes of a US version of Who Do You Think You Are? Details of the broadcaster are commercially sensitive at this stage. Who Do You Think You Are? is a successful brand in the UK and BBC1's highest rating factual programme, delivering over 6m viewers per episode. Series five for BBC1 is currently in production and a sixth series has been commissioned for broadcast in 2009.
Eileen Gallagher, CEO of Shed Media said: "We're delighted Superanny USA has been picked up for a fifth season. The appetite for Superanny USA is huge. It's a ratings success for ABC and has wide audience appeal, particularly with the 18-49 year olds.
"Wall to Wall is pushing into the US market and we're confident the development of a new US version of Who Do You Think You Are? will be a success. We recognise there are a number of valuable opportunities in the US market in which to both extend the Group's existing major brands, and to create new future brands. We look forward to further expanding our business in the lucrative US market."
Shed Media plc is pleased to announce Shed Productions has secured a new peak-time drama commission.
- Hope Springs - commission of 8 hours for BBC1
The new BBC1 drama, Hope Springs, is an original idea created by Shed Productions. Hope Springs tells the story of four female ex-prisoners who find themselves on the run in Scotland, after stealing £5 million from one of the character's gangster husband. Filming is due to start mid 2008 and will be filmed entirely in Scotland. The new drama will provide viewers with spectacular landscape and locations, have a very modern feel and comedic undertone.
Eileen Gallagher, CEO of Shed Media said: "We're thrilled with the new commission. And we're especially pleased that we will be producing Hope Springs entirely in Scotland, Shed's natural home territory. We hope this will be the beginning of a wave of drama produced by Shed in Scotland for UK networks.
"Hope Springs is an exciting drama and excellent new brand for BBC1. We're confident Hope Springs will be extremely popular with viewers and is a potential long-runner for BBC1."
Recent BBC re-commissions for Shed Media include:
- Waterloo Road: Re-commission of 20 hours
- Who Do You Think You Are? Re-commission of 10 hours for 2008 (BBC increased its initial order from 8 to 10 hours)
- Who Do You Think You Are? Re-commission of 8 hours for 2009
Anne Mensah, Head of Drama for BBC Scotland and Executive Producer on Hope Springs comments: "After working with the team from Shed for three years on Waterloo Road, I'm delighted to literally bring them home to make their first drama in Scotland.
"Hope Springs is one of the most fun shows I've ever had a chance to be involved in - Northern Exposure with a delicious twist of Shed - I can't wait until we start shooting. I'm sure audiences are going to love it."
Shed Media plc is pleased to announce Shed Productions and Wall to Wall have secured the following re-commissions:
- Waterloo Road: Re-commission of 20 hours
- Who Do You Think You Are? Re-commission of 10 hours for 2008
- Who Do You Think You Are? Re-commission of 8 hours for 2009
The BBC has ordered 20 hours for a fourth series of Waterloo Road. The third series, which is currently on air, has attracted its highest viewing figures to date, averaging over 5m viewers each week.
With over 6m viewers per episode, Who Do You Think You Are? is one of the highest rated returning factual series in the UK. The BBC has increased its initial order for 2008 from 8 to 10 hours. For 2009 an order for 8 hours has been secured.
Revenue from Waterloo Road is expected to fall into figures for 2008. Revenue from Who Do You Think You Are? will fall into 2008 and 2009.
Eileen Gallagher, CEO of Shed Media said: "We're delighted Waterloo Road and Who Do You Think You Are? have been re-commissioned for BBC1. Waterloo Road is extremely popular with viewers and ratings have continually been strong, especially with the valuable 16-34 year old audience. The returning brand has been a great success for the BBC and is well established in its schedules.
"Who Do You Think You Are? is an incredibly successful brand, and continues to be BBC1's flagship factual programme, consistently delivering on average over 6m viewers per episode. The re-commissioning of the programme into 2009 is an acknowledgement of its continuing strength.
"With these new commissions we will have produced, in total, 60 hours of Waterloo Road and 49 hours of Who Do You Think You Are?"
Shed Media Plc , one of the UK's leading independent producers and distributors of television content, which has changed its year end reporting date to 31 December 2007, today announces interim results for the twelve months ended 31 August 2007. Click HERE to download a copy.
Shed Media plc, one of the UK’s leading independent producers and distributors of television content, is pleased to announce that it has agreed terms for the acquisition of Wall to Wall (Holdings) Limited.
Summary:
- Wall to Wall is one of the UK’s most creative and successful independent production companies specialising in high profile TV brands in drama, docu-drama, factual formats, science and history.
- It is one of the industry’s most trusted and respected companies and has operated in the UK and the US for over 20 years.
- Recent successful returning brands include ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ and ‘New Tricks’ for BBC1 - both the highest rating programmes in their genres in 2007.
- Wall to Wall is growing strongly and is highly profitable with turnover reaching £19.5m in the year ended 30 June 2007 delivering EBITDA of £2m.*
- The transaction is expected to be earnings enhancing in the financial year ending 2008.
- Wall to Wall has a strong management team tied in by ownership.
- The Company has consistently delivered long-running returning franchises including ‘The History House’ franchise, which encompassed ‘1900’s House’, ‘1940’s House’ and ‘Frontier House’. Recent franchise ‘Child Genius’ series for Channel 4.
- Extensive library of over 1000 hours. Full exploitation of library still to be realised.
- Total consideration for Wall to Wall is £25m, with £20m being paid as initial consideration and £5.0m being contingent on performance.
- Shed welcomes Alex Graham, Wall to Wall’s Chief Executive, to the Board of Shed Media.
- The addition of Wall to Wall broadens Shed Media’s offerings to broadcasters and is an excellent fit alongside Shed Productions, Ricochet, Twenty Twenty and Outright Distribution.
*Adjusted EBITDA
Eileen Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer of Shed Media commented:
”I have greatly admired Wall to Wall for many years and I am absolutely delighted that Alex Graham has chosen to bring his company into Shed Media. Wall to Wall has some of the most successful television brands around and Alex Graham, who joins the Shed Board with immediate effect, will make a great contribution to growing the group.”
Alex Graham, Chief Executive, Wall to Wall, commented:
“I am thrilled that Wall to Wall is to become part of Shed Media, which I regard as easily the most dynamic production and distribution business in the UK. I have long been an admirer of Eileen Gallagher and her terrific management team, and I’m personally looking forward to working alongside her on the Shed Board and helping to build the business. What I like about Shed is that it understands that commercial success is built on long-running programme brands and I’m looking forward to playing my part in creating the next generation of hit Shed shows.”
For further information regarding the acquisition of Wall to Wall, please click HERE.
Shed Media plc is pleased to announce the acquisition of Twenty Twenty Productions Limited and its subsidiary company Twenty Twenty Brighton Limited, collectively known as "Twenty Twenty".
Summary:
- Twenty Twenty is a multi award-winning, independent UK television production company, producing programming across a wide range of genres including: living history, documentaries, current affairs and drama.
- Twenty Twenty has been a well-respected and trusted provider of high quality programmes for 25 years.
- Programmes include 2007 BAFTA winner 'The Choir', 'That'll Teach 'Em', 'Bad Lads Army', 'Brat Camp', 'Grandad's Back in Business', 'Never Did Me Any Harm', 'Evacuation' and 'Sorcerers Apprentice'.
- Strong relationships with all the UK's major broadcasting networks including: BBC ONE, BBC TWO, BBC3, ITV, C4 and Five.
- Total consideration for Twenty Twenty is £19m, with £18m being paid as initial consideration and £1.0m being contingent on the financial performance of Twenty Twenty. The initial consideration will be satisfied by £11.4m in cash, £1.9m in redeemable loan notes and £4.7m in shares.
- Cash consideration is to be financed out of existing cash resources and new debt facilities.
- Twenty Twenty is a growing business which is highly profitable, with turnover reaching £9.4m in the year ended 31 May 2007 delivering adjusted profits in excess of £2.0m.
- A number of Twenty Twenty’s productions are commissioned as returning series by broadcasters.
- The transaction is expected to be earnings enhancing in the financial year ending 2008.
- The addition of Twenty Twenty to the Shed Group broadens its offerings to broadcasters and is an excellent fit alongside Shed Productions, Ricochet and Outright Distribution.
- Shed welcomes Peter Casely-Hayford, Twenty Twenty's Managing Director, to the Board of the Company.
Eileen Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer of Shed commented: "Twenty Twenty is recognised throughout the industry for producing the highest quality programming with a critical popular touch. The team behind the company is second to none – talented, creative and commercially driven.
"Like all Shed production companies it is highly profitable and cash generative and will broaden the group’s revenue base.
"We are delighted to have Twenty Twenty as part of the growing Shed group and we are very pleased to announce that Peter Casely-Hayford will be joining the Shed group board with immediate effect."
Peter Casely-Hayford, Managing Director, Twenty Twenty commented: "Twenty Twenty is absolutely delighted to be joining the Shed group. Shed has a reputation for well made, attention grabbing contemporary drama. Their factual team is experienced at delivering top quality programmes that rate extremely well, both here in the UK and in the US. We can only benefit from joining a group of such talented and high achieving people."
For further information regarding the acquisition of Twenty Twenty, please click HERE.
Shed Productions, one of the UK's leading independent television production companies, is today pleased to announce a change of Company name to Shed Media plc with immediate effect.
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