Simon Cowell’s Syco Launches New Production Venture

LONDON: Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment has set up the new indie production house Over The Top Productions, led by the company’s global head of television, Nigel Hall.

Hall has been with Syco for nine years, and was instrumental in the development of such entertainment hits as The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent. He will now be heading up the new venture, Over The Top, which will focus on the development of niche TV productions. The new outfit is based in London.

“Working alongside Simon Cowell in taking ideas, thoughts and pieces of paper and turning them into worldwide formats has been an extraordinary adventure,” said Hall. “Looking at the future, I am delighted to announce the birth of Over The Top Productions and we are already in advanced talks with broadcasters over new formats.”

Charles Garland, the global chief executive of Syco Entertainment, added, “This is an exciting next step for Syco Entertainment in our expansion plans and reflects our commitment to fostering creativity. Specifically, Over The Top provides us with another development pipeline which, under Nigel’s direction alongside his role as global head of TV for Syco Entertainment, I hope will see a wide and varied portfolio of formats coming to market.”