Zodiak Media Offloads Mastiff Media Polska

LONDON: Zodiak Media has sold its Mastiff Media Polska production outfit to its management team, led by Grzegorz Piekarski and backed by Swedish private-equity firm Layline Partners, headed by Olle Langenius.

Mastiff Media Polska is the Polish production company behind local versions of So You Think You Can Dance, Don’t Forget the Lyrics, Clash of the Choirs and Perfect Housewife. The company will continue to work closely with Zodiak Rights under an exclusive representation deal for entertainment formats and an exclusive first-look deal for scripted formats for Poland.

The company is changing its name, with a re-brand to take place over the next six months.

Johannes Jensen, the CEO of Zodiak Nordic, commented: "After reviewing Zodiak’s operations in the Nordic region in 2011, we came to the conclusion that, despite obvious growth opportunities in Poland and in line with Zodiak Media’s strategy, our time is best spent on the development and production of new formats in Scandinavia. We very much look forward to continuing to work closely with Grzegorz in this new structure, for many years to come."

Grzegorz Piekarski, the managing director of Mastiff Media Polska, added: "We’re excited about the opportunity to continue to build our business in the Polish TV market, backed by new investment from Layline Partners and with Zodiak remaining as a key international partner. Thanks to our credibility and position on the TV market, we will continue our great adventure in Poland. The increased autonomy created by the new structure and addition of Roch Fortin, a content producer, to the team will allow us to adapt our offering more quickly in a fast changing marketplace, whilst retaining the international dialogue brought by a partnership with Zodiak. For the time being it is business as usual, and we look forward to meeting all our clients and suppliers in Cannes during the international TV market.”

Olle Langenius, the managing director of Layline Partners, said: “I am really looking forward to a comeback in the TV business together with my professional friends in Poland, Grzegorz Piekarski and Roch Fortin, to continue growing the company. I am also very satisfied to be able to continue the great partnership with Zodiak Media and represent their strong format catalogue in Poland.”