Entering new markets is a major trend in media industry

Last year mass media highlighting events of media industry published lots of news about mergers & acquisitions as well as launching media groups’ subsidiaries in every corner of the world. Here are some key deals of 2013 listed below.

March 2013

French film company EuropaCorp founded by Luc Besson and Pierre-Ange Le Pogam entered the US production market having launched its production subsidiary in Los Angeles. It is aimed to facilitate cooperation with the US based studios.

At the same time London-based international content producer and distributor FremantleMedia launched an affiliate in New York. New branch is charge of digital and branded content distribution on multiple platforms including social networks.

April 2013

Endemol - international content producer and distributor headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands - acquired 50% stake in Israeli indie prodco Kuperman Productions. The newly launched affiliate named Endemol Israel produces Endemol's international formats for the Israeli market.

June 2013

Media company ITV with its main office in London continued to grove in the US by acquiring 65% in Los Angeles based Thinkfactory Media.

July 2013

Eyeworks Group headquartered in Amsterdam signed deal with film and TV production company MRP Matila Röhr Productions Oy on acquiring majority stake in Helsinki-based Nordisk Film TV Finland. Prodco known for its successful remakes of international reality series was renamed Eyeworks Finland.

August 2013

Paris-based distributor PGS Entertainment (PGS) launched its Hong Kong affiliate. PGS H.K. manages sails of children’s content in Asia.

September 2013

London-based media group All3Media strengthened its positions on the US content production market launching affiliate of German prodco MME/Filmpool in Los Angeles. MME/Filmpool USA produces adaptations of German TV formats as well as develop produces and sells original content on the US territory.

December 2013

Banijay Group and Endemol grew. Banijay in association with producer Filippo Cipriano launched Italian TV prodco NonPanic producing content for local pay TV channels. Endemol signed strategic partnership deal with Israeli broadcaster Reshet. Since then Endemol owns 33% stake in the Israeli company.

January 2014

NBCUniversal International Television Production – production branch of NBCUniversal International (NBCUI) headquartered in London – signed two deals: the group acquired a stake in Vancouver-based Lark Productions and took full ownership of the Australian prodco Matchbox Pictures (offices in Sidney and Melbourne) in which NBCUI had an equity stake since 2011.

February 2014

Production branch of German media group ProSiebenSat.1 - Red Arrow Entertainment owing 51% stake in production company Sultan Sushi (offices in Mechelen, Belgium and Amsterdam, Netherlands) acquired the rest 49% of the shares.

March 2014

Holding Talpa Media (has headquarters in Netherlands) set up joint ventures with Shed Media Group in UK, Toro in Italy, Nordisk and Banijay Finland in Nordic Region. Deals resulted in launching London-based Talpa UK, Rome based Talpa Italia and Copenhagen-based Talpa Nordic – three prodcos produce adaptations of Talpa’s formats for the local broadcasters.

International media companies entering new markets make local players strengthen their positions and stimulate competition. At the same time conflicts may occur among them in respect of the conditions of rights management deals such as the territories rights are spread and distribution windows on those territories.

On September 16-18, 2014 leading content producers and distributors from all over the world will represent participate in the Ukrainian Content Market in the course of KYIV MEDIA WEEK.

Join  Ukrianian Content Market and keep up on the latest trends of international media business.