NBCU Acquires Brit Producer

LONDON, August 20: As part of its efforts to ramp up its
international production activities, NBC Universal is acquiring the British
outfit Carnival Film & Television, whose credits include the hit BBC series
Hotel Babylon.

The deal represents the first
acquisition by NBC Universal’s international TV production division, headed by
Angela Bromstad as president. Founded in 1978, Carnival has produced in excess
of 400 hours of drama for the likes of the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky. NBCU is
acquiring 100 percent of the firm from current shareholders: Southern Star (75
percent) and Gareth Neame, Carnival’s CEO (25 percent). The acquisition
includes library rights to Carnival titles, as well as distribution rights
currently held by Southern Star. On completion of the transaction, Carnival
will be merged into NBC Universal’s international TV production division.

Jeff
Zucker, the president and CEO of NBC Universal, said: “International growth
is one of our key strategic priorities, and that includes boosting our ability
to create programming for specific local audiences around the world. This
acquisition will jump-start our efforts in the very important U.K. market.
Carnival has a great track record, and we are excited about helping this
first-class operation become even more successful.”

Peter
Smith, the president of NBC Universal International, added: “This exciting
agreement represents a further step towards our goal of complementing our
quality brands with the capacity to produce quality, compelling local TV
content with global appeal.”

Neame stated: “I am excited to
bring the company into the global brand that is NBC Universal under this
groundbreaking deal, which offers great strategic opportunities for Carnival
and all the talent who work with us. As a unique production model in the U.K.,
I believe we will have so much to bring to our broadcaster relationships and
the creative community. Equally, as a production base for NBC Universal outside
of North America, we will be an important asset for our new parent.”

NBCU is on a mission to more than
double its international revenues by 2010. To that end, it acquired Sparrowhawk
Media, which operates the Hallmark channels outside of the U.S., and 26 percent
of India’s NDTV Networks. NBCU has also been expanding its channels presence
worldwide.

—Mansha Daswani