The Stage

Avalon branches into factual shows with Liberty Bell buy

Published Tuesday 16 August 2005 at 15:15 by Liz Thomas

Avalon Television is to branch out into factual programming with the acquisition of Grumpy Old Men production company Liberty Bell, the latest move in the firm’s extensive expansion plan.

The deal, for an undisclosed amount, provides the comedy and entertainment specialist with a ready made factual arm creating an annual turnover of around £3 million. Liberty Bell was set up by ex-ITV chief executive Stuart Prebble and the late Big Breakfast pioneer Andrea Wonfor.

Prebble, who will remain as Liberty’s managing director, said he was confident that the combined workforces would complement each other. He said: “I believe we can get significant benefit from being part of the Avalon Group. We’ve already embarked on some joint projects and I know there’s a lot more we can do together.”

In recent months, Avalon has announced expansion plans with a new television production company, set up in conjunction with Channel 4 International, specialising in developing original TV formats for the UK and global markets. Tinderbox Television had been created to capitalise on the worldwide popularity of shows originating from UK production companies such as 19 Entertainment’s Pop Idol and Celador’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

In July, Avalon also revealed it had poached David Martin, the vice-president of Fox Television, to head a new division in Los Angeles. The signing has provided the company with a high-profile executive and a permanent television presence in the US.

The British independent production sector is becoming increasingly consolidated with a significant number of medium-sized companies buying smaller houses in a bid to become more competitive.

Last week, Wife Swap producer RDF Media confirmed it had bought full control of drama producer Touchpaper Pictures for £2.7 million and is expected to announce it will buy another production house by the end of the year. Meanwhile, earlier this year All3Media, which already owns factual producer Lion Television and Shameless producer Company Pictures, snapped up Phil Redmond’s Mersey TV.

Ten Alps, the firm co-founded by Bob Geldof, has been bought by 3BM and Brook Lapping, while even production giant Endemol has announced the creation of a new drama arm headed by the creator of Footballers’ Wives Paul Marquess.