UK television giant ITV has gobbled up the remaining 75 percent of Mammoth Screen, the independent production company behind the critical and ratings hit “Poldark” on BBC1.
Monday’s acquisition announcement comes the week after the company walked away from a $950 million deal to acquire The Weinstein Company’s TV division.
ITV has held a 25 percent equity investment in Mammoth Screen since it was founded in 2007. Financial terms of the acquisition weren’t released.
As part of its original deal, ITV Studios’ distribution business, ITV Studios Global Entertainment, had an agreement to exclusively distribute Mammoth Screen’s productions. “Endeavour” has aired in over 180 countries. “Poldark,” which had an average audience of 8.2 million viewers in the UK, was recently launched on the international television market with deals broadcast deals in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and Canada.
“Poldark” airs on PBS’ Masterpiece in the U.S.
Mammoth Screen’s founder Damien Timmer, who was once head of drama for ITV Productions, will lead the business as managing director. Co-founder Michele Buck will step down as joint managing director but will remain as executive producer on “Agatha Raisin,” “A Tale Of Two Cities” and “Lewis,” which she produces with ITV Studios.
Mammoth’s senior team going forward includes Rebecca Keane as creative director, Preethi Mavahalli and Karen Thrussell as executive producers, James Penny as commercial director, Jon Williams as director of production and finance, and Ronnie Castillo as head of production.