Liberty Global, TPG Align for Platform One Media

TPG Growth and Liberty Global have come together to form Platform One Media, a new TV production and distribution studio that will be led by former Gaumont Television CEO Katie O’Connell Marsh.

TPG Growth will fund its investment through Evolution Media, a partnership with CAA and Participant Media. Liberty Global will initially be taking a minority equity stake in the business.

O’Connell Marsh will serve as CEO of Platform One Media, which will aim to curate, develop, produce and distribute high-quality scripted programming for the U.S. and international markets. As part of its launch, Platform One Media acquired the portfolio of development projects from Slingshot Global Media and retired the Slingshot brand.

Additionally, Courtney Conte, who most recently served as president of Slingshot Global Media, will be COO and president of the new venture. Elisa Ellis, who most recently served as the head of creative for the live-action television division of DreamWorks Animation, will be joining as chief creative officer. Erik Pack, formerly the president of international distribution and co-production at Gaumont Television, will join Platform One Media as head of distribution and co-production, based in London. Neil Strum, who most recently served as head of business and legal affairs for Slingshot Global Media, will take on the same position at Platform One Media. Julia Franz, former head of creative at ABC Studios, will serve as a consultant for the new company.

“TPG Growth has a history of identifying and building companies, such as STX Entertainment, that can redefine their categories,” said Bill McGlashan, founder and managing partner of TPG Growth and co-founder and CEO of The Rise Fund. “Working with our partners at Evolution Media, we look forward to leveraging our collective experiences and networks in the entertainment space to build this business with Katie and her team.”

“Platform One Media has the key ingredients Liberty Global values in a strategic asset: great leadership, a clear vision and aligned, well-capitalized partners,” said Bruce Mann, the chief programming officer at Liberty Global. “It also gives us the opportunity to work with world-class talent creating high-quality scripted programming which could potentially feature on Liberty Global’s pay-TV platforms in Europe. We are fortunate to have Katie O’Connell Marsh bringing her vision, drive and creative track record, and to be working with TPG Growth, who we view as a natural strategic partner.”

“The explosion of original content globally is creating an opportunity for new, innovative, and diverse ways to engage audiences beyond the series itself,” said O’Connell Marsh. “With Platform One Media, and our partners TPG Growth and Liberty Global, we are perfectly positioned to develop and distribute compelling narratives that are artistic, meaningful and addictive by working closely with innovative, inspiring talent to bring to life their creative visions.”