ALL3MEDIA & BBC Worldwide Set Up German Production Outfit

BERLIN: ALL3MEDIA Deutschland and BBC Worldwide have teamed up to form Tower Productions, which will develop its own formats as well as focus on local productions for shows within both companies’ catalogues.

Based in Cologne, Tower Productions will be headed up by Stefan Oelze, a management board member of ALL3MEDIA German subsidiary MME MOVIEMENT, and Dr. Markus Schäfer, the managing director of ALL3MEDIA Deutschland. They will be working with Colin Jarvis, BBC Worldwide’s director of international formats, as a management team. The cooperation is still subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities.

Oelze, the managing director of Tower Productions, said: “This is an honor for us, and BBC Worldwide’s decision to enter into this agreement with us in Germany underscores the international reputation of the MME MOVIEMENT Group. This deal now facilitates access to one of the largest and most diverse format catalogues in the world. We are already entering into negotiations with broadcasters on initial projects.” Oelze added: “Armed with the rights catalogue of our parent company ALL3MEDIA and the BBC Worldwide catalogue, we now possess one of the most appealing suites of international formats on the German market.”

Wayne Garvie, the managing director of content and production for BBC Worldwide, commented: “We are very excited to have the MME MOVIEMENT Group as a partner in Germany, one of the most successful production companies in this competitive key market. I’m sure that Tower will very quickly become one of the most dynamic producers in Europe. And, of course, working with ALL3MEDIA illustrates BBC Worldwide partners with the very best of British.”

Steve Morrison, the CEO of ALL3MEDIA, added: “This is a terrific opportunity to combine the experience we have as a leading producer in Germany with the quality and depth of the internationally renowned BBCW format catalogue. We are delighted to be able to offer the largest TV market in Europe the best of BBCW and A3M content. We have a winning combination!”