DRG Forms New Unit

LONDON, May 22: Digital
Rights Group (DRG) has created a dedicated DRG Acquisitions Group to fund
program development and co-productions, chaired by Andrea Jackson, the managing
director of Zeal Entertainment.

With the goal of
increasing the amount of DRG-represented content in all genres, the
Acquisitions Group is actively seeking programming development and funding
opportunities. The Acquisitions Group’s participation with content creators
will extend from early-stage involvement in one-off development deals to
first-look agreements, the arrangement of co-production alliances, deficit
financing and full-production cash flow.

Content acquired by the
group will be distributed internationally by a host of distribution companies
within the group, consisting of Portman Film & TV, a distributor of
scripted drama content; Zeal Entertainment, specializing in format,
entertainment and events programming; lifestyle and reality distributor iD
Distribution; format library Click TV; Channel 4 International (C4i), featuring
documentaries; and I-Rights, focused on digital-rights exploitation.

As part of the
Acquisitions Group, Jackson will be joined by Niki Page, the head of
acquisitions at C4i; Caroline Percy, the head of acquisitions at iD
Distribution; and Anke Stoll, the head of acquisitions at Portman Film &
TV.

Jackson commented: “The
strong creative track record and expertise of DRG group companies is sure to
create a formidable presence in the development and distribution of content and
we look forward to working with producers to maximize the potential of the
programming they are creating.”

She continued: “All
content creators working with DRG will be able to decide which distributor best
suits their programming. Each brand has a fantastic reputation in its
specialist field and has an extraordinary international network of
relationships, leverage and market knowledge. This combined approach offers
broadcasters and producers significant advantage if they are represented by
DRG. The ‘umbrella’ distribution model delivers all the advantages of
representation by a large distributor but also provides the specialist, bespoke
service that fits the unique requirements of an individual program within a
portfolio.”

—By Irene Lew