DCD Media Grows Distribution Division

LONDON, August 28: DCD
Media has signed an agreement that will increase the revenues and profits of
its wholly-owned television distribution arm, which has been re-branded as DCD
Rights.

DCD Right has agreed to an
arrangement that grants it access to a rolling fund of £10 million to invest in
exploitation rights in programs. This fund will be used as a distribution
investment and will see some 30 to 50 percent of average sales forecast (after
commission) advanced to producers when the programs are delivered. Some of this
content will be from within DCD’s own catalogue, while others will be
third-party product. Fund profits from the sales will be used for further
investment in program distribution.

DCD Rights’ CEO, Nicky
Davies Williams, said: “We are thrilled with the prospects generated by the
significant enlargement of our existing distribution operations. This expansion
further strengthens our presence internationally and will deliver substantial
benefits both to our third-party clients and our six wholly-owned production
companies: Box TV, Done and Dusted, Iambic Productions, Prospect Pictures,
September Films and West Park Pictures.”

DCD has also formed DCD
Publishing, a new division that will look to exploit book publishing,
merchandising, licensing and U.K. DVD rights. Digital Classics DVD is being
merged into this new division, with Stephen Fry in America as one of its initial titles. Adrian Sington has
been named CEO of this new division, and has already negotiated deals for
series such as Richard Hammond’s Blast Lab and Alan Whicker’s Journey of a Lifetime.

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski