U.K. TV Network ITV Eyes Deal to Buy ‘The Voice’ Creator Talpa
LONDON — The U.K.-based broadcast and production group ITV is in exclusive talks to buy John de Mol’s production company Talpa Media, which created “The Voice.”
In a statement, ITV said: “ITV is continually assessing opportunities to grow and develop its business in line with its strategy, including the assessment of potential acquisitions. ITV confirms that it is in exclusive discussions regarding an acquisition of Talpa. These discussions may or may not result in agreement of a transaction.”
De Mol, who owns 100% of the company, first put Talpa on the block in September. De Mol set up the Netherlands-based company in 2004, since which it has set up or bought companies in several territories and regions, including the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Italy, the Nordics and the Middle East.
Talpa is also a shareholder in Dutch broadcast group SBS Broadcasting, through which it gives test runs to its formats. However, it is believed that the SBS stake will not be included in the ITV deal, according to Broadcast magazine.
Talpa’s formats also include social experiment reality show “Utopia,” which Fox pulled from its schedules in the U.S. after two months on air.
Before setting up Talpa, De Mol founded and ran Endemol Entertainment with Joop van den Ende. The company’s hits included “Big Brother.” The ITV deal is likely to tie De Mol to Talpa for at least three years, and would include a no-compete clause that would extend beyond that.
The Talpa acquisition would represent the latest installment in the realization of ITV’s five-year “transformation plan,” which was put in place in August 2010 and renewed in July 2014.
The plan’s strategic priorities are to maximize audience and revenue share from its free-to-air broadcast and VOD business; to grow its international content business; and to build a global pay and distribution business.
Since the plan was put in place, ITV has been investing heavily in production companies — many of them in the U.S. — as it attempts to reduce its reliance on advertising revenue from its free-to-air channels in the U.K.
In late 2012 and early 2013, ITV purchased controlling stakes in U.S. companies Gurney Prods. and High Noon Entertainment, and acquired 100% of the U.K.’s the Garden and Big Talk Prods.
Later in 2013, ITV took a controlling stake in Thinkfactory Media, the U.S. producer of reality, entertainment and drama shows, including the Emmy-winning “Hatfields & McCoys.”
Early last year, ITV bought a controlling stake in DiGa Vision, the New York-based independent producer of reality and scripted programming, including “Teen Wolf.”
Later in 2014, ITV acquired Leftfield Entertainment Group, whose shows include “Pawn Stars,” “Counting Cars,” “American Restoration” and “Real Housewives of New Jersey.” The deal made ITV the largest unscripted independent producer in the U.S.
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