ITV plc will acquire a controlling stake in High Noon Entertainment, the reality TV producer behind "Cake Boss" and "Tough Love," the companies said Monday.
High Noon was founded in 1997 by former Liberty Media executive Jim Berger, and his partners Duke Hartman and Sonny Hutchison. The company supplies shows for the Scripps network and has projects for channels such as HGTV, DIY, Travel and Food.
ITV is a British media company formed by the 2004 merger of Granada plc and Carlton Communications. Though United Kingdom-based, the company has been making incursions into the United States. For instance, ITV purchased U.S. based Gurney Productions last December.
“Jim and his talented team have built High Noon Entertainment into a successful player in the US non-scripted market," Paul Buccieri, managing director ITV Studios International and president and CEO ITV Studios America, said in a statement. "They have limitless creativity and an inventive approach across multiple genres for a wide range of networks."
Following the acquisition, Buccieri will have direct responsibility for High Noon Entertainment.
