Sony Sets Up U.K. JV

LONDON: Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and British production exec Victoria Ashbourne have launched a new joint-venture company, Victory Television, which will focus on entertainment and factual entertainment programming for the U.K. market.

The venture is led by Ashbourne, who was previously the senior VP of creative development for international production at SPT, as managing director. The outfit is based in London. Victory has already secured its first commission, producing a series of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? celebrity specials for ITV, set to air on ITV1 this summer. The first of which will be a "Schools Out" special, featuring celebrities and their children. The following two will be soap star specials.

Kees Abrahams, SPT’s president international production, said, “This is an important step as we continue to build our presence in the U.K. market. Victoria is a highly accomplished producer and has been a very talented, creative force during her time at SPT, helping drive international development through our production network. We look forward to Victoria building a thriving business for U.K. entertainment programming.”

Ashbourne added, “SPT is a creative powerhouse in entertainment around the world and I couldn’t wish for a better umbrella under which to launch this exciting new venture. Victory will carry on SPT’s formidable success in producing high-end, entertainment game shows, such as Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, and create fresh new entertainment and factual entertainment formats for U.K. broadcasters and international markets.”