Endemol’s Tim Hincks Talks M&A, Scripted Strategy at MIPTV

CANNES: Speaking to reporters immediately following his MIPTV keynote today, Tim Hincks, the president of Endemol, noted that the company will soon be back in the mergers and acquisitions game, and discussed the gains made in its scripted business over the last few years.

Launching the AMC drama Low Winter Sun at MIPTV this week, Endemol has been ramping up its business with U.S. cable networks. "Cable is an exciting space for us to be in," Hincks said. "We’re very pleased with the progress" of the Endemol U.S. scripted business, he noted. The question is, he continued, "how do we keep the momentum going."

Hincks continued, "You can have 25 ideas in nonscripted a week if you want without [it] costing [much] money. You have to be more measured and focused in scripted."

He also announced that the company is looking at acquisitions again, after a quiet few years as it restructured its debt. "M&A is an intrinsic part of where Endemol started. It’s kind of in our DNA. For the last couple of years we’ve been more internally focused. It’s been important to get our cash situation in a good place. Having achieved that, we’re now back in business. That’s the change. We’re going to be looking at both production companies, traditional M&A, but also in the digital space."

Acknowledging that there are challenges in the international marketplace, Hincks noted, "We feel real optimism. if you’re global and you create and own your own IP, there are so many benefits to that. If you’ve got scale and resources, then taking some appropriate risk in digital and new areas and so on is something you can do."

In reference to emerging markets such as India, where CA Media recently became a joint venture partner in Endemol’s local operations, Hincks said the key is understanding how best to tap into the opportunities available. "The fundamental principle for us is that we are global company but we operate incredibly locally. In the case of India…the joint venture was the right way to go. It’s not necessarily the way we’ll go as a rule."