NBCU Buys Into Canada’s Lark Productions

LONDON: NBCUniversal International Television Production has acquired a minority equity stake in Lark Productions, a Canadian production house that is behind the successful crime series Motive.

The two have been working together since Lark's inception in 2010, when NBCU provided development financing and acted as an international distributor for several of the company's productions. NBCU will now pick up a minority share in the company, along with entering into a first-look and distribution agreement.

Lark produced the format Real Housewives of Vancouver for Shaw, as well as the crime series Motive, which has sold to most of Europe, Australia, Brazil and much of Africa.

Lark’s operations will continue to be fully run by Louise Clark and her team. Strengthened by the partnership with NBCU, Lark plans to scale up its operations and is currently searching for a chief operating officer. The company named Ed Robinson, who spent time at CTV and CBC, as an independent director to sit on its board.

Michael Edelstein, the president of NBCUniversal International Television Production, said: “We have tremendous confidence in Louise and her team. Our working relationship with Lark has been incredibly fruitful over the past three years, and we are immensely proud of what they have accomplished. I look forward to working with Lark in the years to come, and giving their shows the global reach they deserve.”

Clark commented: “I am genuinely delighted to further strengthen what is already a fantastic creative partnership with NBCUniversal. Michael and the team share our passion for making great television, and we’re already talking about a number of exciting new projects.”