SPTI Takes Teleset Stake

CULVER CITY: Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) has acquired a 50-percent stake in the Colombian producer Teleset.

The deal is part of SPTI’s strategy to expand its international production capabilities and follows the acquisition of 2waytraffic and investments in other outfits around the world. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"We think there’s great potential for local production in Latin America, and we hope our investment in Teleset will result in product that can travel well within the region and the U.S. Hispanic market," said T.C. Schultz, the managing director for Latin America at SPTI.

Established in 1995, Teleset has a track record of producing drama and reality fare. It has developed and produced more than 2,000 hours of programming, which include Colombian telenovelas like La Baby Sister, El inútil, El auténtico Rodrigo Leal and Juegos prohibidos, which have sold into more than 30 countries. Teleset has also adapted international formats for the local market, working with SPTI on Power of 10 and Singing Office, and brought its own concepts to the global market through its agreements with Primetime and Invento. Teleset is also a 50-percent partner in the light entertainment formats company Si Hay Ideas.

"We already have an established relationship with Teleset and we’ve seen the fantastic success of its managing team," said Brendan Fitzgerald, SPTI’s senior VP of international production. "Teleset’s outstanding track record in the region and (SPTI’s) global production and distribution expertise are complementary. So this fits our strategy for growing our production business in the region."

José Antonio de Brigard, the president of Teleset, added: "The industry’s current globalization and the future of television demand that companies like Teleset have access to new markets, concentrating on production needs and the development of content. This is vital to us and having an alliance with a company as important as Sony Pictures Television International is the greatest honor I’ve had in my career and it makes me proud. Their production values, commitment to quality and professionalism are definitive elements for this important deal."