Sports producer Input Media has been acquired by Gravity Media Group (GMG), the the owner of worldwide broadcast services specialists Gearhouse Broadcast and Hyperactive Broadcast.
Input Media will retain its branding, current leadership team and staff, and continue to serve its extensive client base.
The multi-million pound deal is the first major acquisition that GMG has made since securing investment from investment management firm TowerBrook Capital Partners in September 2016 to fund future growth.
Input produces programming for sports federations, broadcasters and football clubs including UEFA, The FA, BBC Sport, ITV Sport, the French Tennis Federation, the International Tennis Federation and Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
Input makes a regular appearance in Televisual’s Production 100 survey of the top UK indies, and last year ranked 44th with a turnover of £13.5m.
GMG said the deal will enable it to diversify its businesses into new areas and broaden the global service offering, adding that it would also strengthen GMG’s ability to provide end-to-end solutions including high-end production and technical facilities.
In a statement, GMG explained: “This is a service that clients are increasingly requesting as they look to further improve operational work flows and drive cost efficiencies. The deal opens the door to new commercial models for emerging technologies such as remote production, with Input Media overseeing productions from its London HQ and Gearhouse Broadcast handling the onsite facilities. Input Media’s expansive fibre and satellite infrastructure means it is able to connect with any facility or venue in the world via IP enabling it to introduce these work flows and operational efficiencies to GMG’s current clients.”
Input Media has worked alongside GMG company Gearhouse Broadcast for ten years on multiple projects, and in 2015 Gearhouse was their systems integration partner completing new production galleries at their west London production facility.
“With many broadcasters and content owners looking to outsource their production and facilities requirements we found we were receiving more and more requests for these end-to-end type services.” said John Newton, Chief Executive Officer at Gravity Media Group. “When we started to think about servicing these requests we identified Input Media as the ideal partner very early on. They are well respected with a strong track record for excellence and an established leadership already in place who we know very well.”
Input Media’s founder, David Wood, who will remain as chairman said: "We’ve built the company over the years on a foundation of strong production values and technical expertise, so I’m delighted that we’ve found a partner in Gravity Media Group that shares these beliefs and will help us to continue to grow our business both in the UK and internationally. Having been a customer of theirs, I have always been impressed by their innovative and flexible approach, and I am confident that together we can address the increasing need from the sports production industry to provide outsourced all-encompassing seamless end-to-end solutions.”
Staff Reporter
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