Sky Vision Ups Stake in Avanti Media

Sky Vision has increased its holdings in producer Avanti Media, now owning a majority 51-percent stake.

Sky Vision acquired a minority shareholding in the company in early 2017. Avanti Media, which produces BBC One’s Songs of Praise, will sit in the Sky Vision production portfolio alongside nine other companies, including Love Productions, Blast Films, True North and Znak & Co.

Avanti and Sky Vision already have a distribution relationship via a two-year first-look deal that was inked in 2016.

Sky Vision’s managing director, Jane Millichip, said: “We have been working with Avanti for two years now, so the acquisition of a majority stake is a natural extension of our joint growth strategy. Emyr Afan and Mair Davies have built an exciting production business with a strong mix of event-based entertainment through to current affairs and documentary, testified by recent commissions, the Mobo Awards on Channel 5, the BBC’s Songs of Praise, and BBC Wales’ current affairs series The Hour. We believe Sky Vision will provide strong commercial partnership, and Avanti is a complementary fit in our growing production portfolio as a Network and Nations and Regions supplier.”

Emyr Afan, co-founder and CCO of Avanti Media, said: “Avanti is delighted to join the Sky Vision family of stellar production companies. We applaud Sky’s vote of confidence in our potential, as well as its investment and commitment to Wales ensuring that talent in every part of the U.K. is seen and heard. This deal provides Avanti with the platform to fulfill our long-term creative and commercial ambitions, both nationally and internationally. It’s a game changer for us.”