Nick Bullen is launching new company, 53 Degrees Global, which will house new production label Love Monday, alongside existing indies Spun Gold TV, Penny Lane Entertainment and post production company Wise Wolf.
53 Degrees Global will target “new opportunities in digital content production and work for international corporate clients”, alongside the creation of Love Monday to expand the genres in which the group operates. 53 Degrees is already working with “high profile international corporate clients on various international projects.”
Love Monday, led by Creative Director Kerene Barefield, will focus on factual entertainment, specialist factual and digital content for UK and international platforms. The company is launching with a new series commission for Sky Arts, and another “high-profile access series” in production for release in 2024, and will also produce future seasons of Sky Arts’ Master Crafters: The Next Generation, now in its second season.
Battle of the Bagpipes (3×60’) lifts the lid on piping traditions, culture and top musicians playing in military and civilian pipe bands. The series reveals the competitive audition process for the Lone Piper at the Royal Military Tattoo and follows new recruits taking part in their first competition to be selected for a “once-in-a-lifetime piping opportunity” at the King’s Coronation.
Love Monday will also produce bi-monthly talk show The Royal Beat for True Royalty TV, the streamer dedicated to royal content.
Nick Bullen, Chairman, 53 Degrees Global said: “Launching the 53 Degrees Global will provide us with the structure and agility to open up new revenue streams including digital opportunities and corporate work for high profile international clients, alongside building on the successful operations of our existing brands Spun Gold TV, Penny Lane and Wise Wolf. 53 Degrees Global is also looking at further label launches in the near future to complement our existing brands.”
“I’m thrilled to be launching Love Monday as part of the 53 Degrees Global,” Bullen added. “Kerene is one of the UK’s leading executive producers whose skill set ranges from live fast-turnaround factual entertainment to high-end specialist factual programming and exclusive royal access, as well as creating social content. She’s hit the ground running with two shows in production for Sky Arts and more in development.”
Kerene Barefield, Creative Director, Love Monday added: “After 20 years in the television industry, the opportunity and challenge of running my own production label feels like a timely next step. The difficulties of the current climate mean we all rely on creativity more than ever, and with this in mind I am excited to begin building Love Monday around strong ideas that resonate with viewers across a full spectrum of platforms.”
Kerene Barefield has produced shows including This Morning, The One Show and Dancing on Ice, and worked as Head of Development for Spun Gold TV and Shine TV and a Senior Development Exec for BBC Studios. She most recently developed and executive produced Sky Arts’ Master Crafters: The Next Generation for Spun Gold, made in conjunction with The Prince’s Foundation, now in its second series. As an executive producer for True Royalty TV, Kerene oversees bi-monthly original production, The Royal Beat.
Spun Gold TV will celebrate its 20-anniversary in 2024. MD Daniela Neumann is expanding the business internationally with formats such as The Real Full Monty and Garden Rescue and building in the US following the success of MILF Manor.
Penny Lane Entertainment, led by Lee Connolly, will continue to expand 53 Degrees’ entertainment and studio activities, including producing the BAFTA Film and TV Awards and ITV’s Love Your Weekend.
Wise Wolf, managed by Julia Obara, provides the group with the majority of its post-production requirements.
Jon Creamer
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