Endemol Buys Tiger Aspect, Darlow Smithson

LONDON: Endemol has purchased independent producers Tiger Aspect and Darlow Smithson Productions and Tigress from IMG. 

The deal, which is reportedly valued at £30 million ($49.9 million), will see Endemol globally representing the portfolio of all three companies via Endemol Worldwide Distribution and the group’s format sales operations. Tiger Aspect produces a range of drama, comedy and factual programming, with shows such as Benidorm, Harry and Paul, Secret Diary of a Call Girl and Ross Kemp on Gangs. Factual specialist Darlow Smithson is the company behind documentaries such as The Falling Man, Thriller in Manila, Miracle on the Hudson and Touching the Void. Darlow Smithson subsidiary Tigress specializes in wildlife and science programming.

All three companies will now report to Tim Hincks, the chief exective of Endemol UK, who commented: "They represent a collection of some of the best creatives in the business and are behind a dazzlingly wide range of genres. We want to back them and give them the freedom to further grow, both in the U.K. and around the world."

Andrew Zein, the managing director of Tiger Aspect, added: "Endemol is the real deal—a fully functioning global creative business. They understand and appreciate what we do and how we do it. For us this is the dream deal we thought would never happen. We’ve found the ideal home."

John Smithson, the executive chairman of Darlow Smithson and Tigress, said: "We can enjoy creative freedom while having all the benefits of being part of a global media player."