Investment group Tin Roof Media has taken a majority stake in factual entertainment indie Outline Productions.
It is the latest indie acquisition by Tin Roof, which acquired factual indie Blink Films which Tin Roof last year.
Founded in 1999 by Managing Director Laura Mansfield, and Creative Director Helen Veale, Outline’s 2017 shows, include Channel 4’ UK’s Best Place to Live with Sarah Beeny and the Pixie McKenna fronted Staying Healthy: A Doctor’s Guide.
Outline is currently in production on a slate that includes social experiment Gender Neutral School for BBC 2. Its alternative medicine show Health Freaks (pictured), originally produced for Channel 4, is about to launch in the Netherlands for Warner Brothers International.
Bridget Boseley, Outline’s Director of Programmes who joined as director in 2008, has taken the opportunity to exit the company.
Outline will continue to be repped by CAA in USA, and for distribution of new formats by DRG, with whom the company is in a first look output deal. The company will retain its independent status.
London-based Tin Roof Media was founded by Neil Court (9 Story Media Group, Peacock Alley Entertainment, former Principal at DHX Media). He is joined by shareholders Charles Wace (Founder of Two Four Group), and Charles Ogilvie (former CFO at eOne UK and Contender Entertainment Group). Court is Executive Chairman of the company, Wace is non-executive director and Ogilvie is CFO. Tin Roof Media is backed by the UK private equity firm, Rockpool Investments.
Court said: “Outline Productions is an ambitious company and we are excited that our investment will enable the company to further expand its portfolio of quality programmes. Factual and factual entertainment continue to be sought after both in the UK and globally.
“At Tin Roof, we seek to back strong management teams with both capital and our entrepreneurial experience so our companies can grow successfully. We are interested in UK factual indies which can benefit from our investment and know-how.”
Laura Mansfield said: “This opportunity to work with the team at Rockpool and Neil, Charlie and Charles at Tin Roof was too good to miss. They will bring expertise and support to our board as we look to the next stage for Outline. Coupled to this, there are synergies with Blink and their talented team, as well as the chance to rapidly expand outside London. Over the years we’ve worked with incredibly talented people and want to thank everyone who has contributed to Outline, and particularly thank Bridget for her outstanding creative contribution. We wish her well as she takes a different path for the future.”
Helen Veale, Creative Director, Outline Productions comments: “I’ve known Dan Chambers since my first days in TV and greatly admire what he Justine, Sarah and their team have done at Blink. We’ve long been wanting to work together and find a way for our companies to collaborate, and this deal gives us a great way to do that. What’s exciting is that both the positive culture and creative output of our indies really complements one another as we seek to grow further.”
Staff Reporter
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