JV Investment in New US Reality Production Company


 

TIDMCFL 
 
RNS Number : 1878N 
Contentfilm PLC 
12 February 2009 
 

Date: 12 February 2009 
On behalf of:            ContentFilm plc ("the Company", "the Group" or 
"ContentFilm") 
Embargoed until:          0700hrs 
 
 
ContentFilm plc 
 
Joint Venture Investment in New US Reality Production Company 
 
 
The Board of ContentFilm plc (AIM: CFL), a pre-eminent owner of media rights 
supported by strong film, TV and digital sales divisions, is pleased to announce 
the details of an investment in a new US reality television production company, 
Collins Avenue. 
 
 
In an initial five year deal, Collins Avenue will be jointly owned by 
ContentFilm in partnership with leading US reality television producer, Jeff 
Collins. ContentFilm will invest start up capital together with ongoing 
overhead, in return for its joint venture stake. Additionally, ContentFilm's 
international television distribution division, Fireworks, will act as 
international distributor for Collins Avenue products and formats. 
 
 
Mr John Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer of ContentFilm, commented: 
 
 
"In recent months, as we have been building the non-fiction side of Fireworks 
International, the opportunity arose to invest in Collins Avenue and join Jeff 
in starting his own company.  We are big fans of Jeff's shows, as evidenced by 
the success of BrideZillas and The Exterminators, and as we got to know him, we 
were greatly impressed by his energy, enthusiasm, and commercial experience.  As 
Jeff launches new productions, we look forward to working with him on 
international sales and co-productions, and we will help him build his new 
business in any way we can. This marks a significant step in our plan to build a 
strong non-fiction business alongside our established fiction business." 
 
 
Mr Jeff Collins, Chief Executive Officer of Collins Avenue, commented: 
 
 
"This is a great time to establish a US reality production company with strong 
international distribution.  US reality programming is getting stronger as the 
demand for great reality ideas increases in the domestic market alongside a 
growing appetite in international markets. The world wants to watch what we make 
and that is truly exciting. 
 
 
"After a decade of running shows and companies for other people, it's time I 
take the reins. Joining the ContentFilm Group was an opportunity I couldn't pass 
up. The access they provide to international markets is unsurpassed.They share 
my vision and agree that now is the time to invest and grow." 
 
 
- Ends - 
 
 
Enquiries: 
 
 
+-----------------------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
| John Schmidt/ Geoff Webb                            |                              | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
| ContentFilm PLC                                     | Tel: 020 7851 6500           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
 
 
+-----------------------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
| Emma Kane/ Sanna Sumner/ Anna Dunkin                |                              | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
| Redleaf Communications Ltd                          | Tel: 020 7566 6700           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
|                                                     | contentfilm@redleafpr.com    | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
 
 
+-----------------------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
| Tom Price/ Neil Elliot                              |                              | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
| Evolution Securities                                | Tel: 020 7071 4300           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
 
 
Notes on Jeff Collins 
 
 
For the past several years Jeff Collins oversaw the US office of September 
Films, serving as the show runner for three seasons on W.E. TV's highest rated 
series "BrideZillas" seen in over 150 territories around the world, as well as 
the new A&E series "The Exterminators" which debuted on 4 Feb 2009.  He also 
served as an Executive Consultant on "The Pregnant Man" for Discovery, which was 
the highest rated show of 2008 for Discovery Networks.  In addition Collins also 
served as the show runner for VH1's "I Know My Kid's A Star", "How Clean Is Your 
House?" for Lifetime, "Survival of the Richest" for the WB, the variety show 
"The Pet Shop with Andy Kindler," "Design Invasion," "Friends or Lovers," and 
the "Crashing With" franchise for MTV.  Beginning his career on the hit show 
"Entertainment Tonight," Jeff was soon promoted to Vice President of LGE, a 
production company under the wing of Paramount Domestic Television, for which he 
produced a number of successful specials and documentaries. Collins is 
represented by APA. 
 
 
 
 
Notes on ContentFilm plc 
  *  Further information on the Company and details of the individual titles that 
  make up the Company's available library is at: www.contentfilm.com 
  *  Publication quality photographs are available through Redleaf Communications. 
  *  ContentFilm International (CFI) is the worldwide film and library sales arm of 
  ContentFim plc. CFI specializes in high quality and commercial feature films, 
  and is able to assist film producers in securing finance. Content handles 
  worldwide sales, marketing, and publicity on all titles. The recently formed 
  Feature Films Library arm also concentrate on international sales on over 120 
  titles. The latest CFI productions include "The Messenger" with Ben Foster and 
  Woody Harrelson produced by 'Saving Private Ryan's Mark Gordon, the true story 
  of Hawaii's "Princess Ka'iulani" starring "The New World's" Q'orianka Kilcher, 
  the action thriller "Horse" with Diego Luna, intense suspense thriller "The 
  Killing Room" with Academy Award   nominated Chloe Sevigny, Toby Wilkins' 
  brilliant horror "Splinter", double-Oscar   nominee Samantha Morton stars in 
  "The Daisy Chain", acclaimed director Fred Schepisi directs Australia's top 
  actors in "Last Man", Academy Award nominated   actor William H. Macy makes his 
  directorial debut with "Keep Coming Back" and the finest of Africa Wildlife crew 
  tells the breathtaking story of the "Elephants of the Okavango". Anthony 
  LaPaglia stars in "Balibo". Completed films include, "August" starring Josh 
  Hartnett, Richard Attenborough's "Closing the Ring" which includes cast such as 
  Shirley MacLaine, Christopher Plummer and Mischa Barton; the horror "Outpost" 
  widely sold to Sony, Paul Verhoeven's "Black Book" and Jason Reitman's "Thank 
  You For Smoking" which generated more than $20 million at the US box office. CFI 
  attends all major markets and festivals including Cannes, Venice, Toronto, AFM 
  and Berlin. CFI is being managed in an executive capacity by Jamie Carmichael, 
  President of ContentFilm International. 
  *  Fireworks International is ContentFilm's international television distribution 
  division with over 3,000 hours of high-quality and commercially appealing 
  programming including an extensive slate of major drama series, factual 
  entertainment, kids live action comedy and drama series, TV movies, mini-series 
  and special event programming. Fireworks International specialises in assisting 
  TV producers to finance their programming and then marketing and selling the 
  programmes internationally, both to the traditional media and new media 
  platforms. Fireworks' library of programming includes the very latest in unique 
  and engaging entertainment. Recent additions include hit crime drama series "The 
  Border" and heart-warming family drama series, "Heartland", "Blood Ties", 
  twenty-two hours of mystery drama with more than a touch of the supernatural, 
  brand new U.S. tween comedy "The Assistants", Mondo Media's "Mondo Mini Shows" 
  catalogue featuring a raft of offbeat comedy programming; children's programmes 
  "Young Dracula", "Black Hole High" and "100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd" plus over 
  200 U.S. network mini-series and TV movies together with specials including the 
  Annual U.S. "Primetime Emmy Awards" shows. This new product is combined with the 
  large and valuable Fireworks library catalogue which is complemented by a raft 
  of formidable television shows including Gene Roddenberry's "Andromeda", "Mutant 
  X" and "Relic Hunter". As one of the UK's largest and fastest-growing 
  entertainment companies, Fireworks International has sales offices in London, 
  Toronto and Los Angeles. Fireworks International is being managed in an 
  executive capacity by Greg Phillips as President of Fireworks International. 
 
 
 
 
This information is provided by RNS 
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange 
   END 
 
 JVEDFLFFKLBFBBD
Contentfilm (LSE:CFL)
Graphique Historique de l'Action
De Mai 2024 à Juin 2024