Lionsgate Acquires Stake in UK Unscripted Production Company Primal Media

Company founded by “Gogglebox” creators Mat Steiner and Adam Wood

Lionsgate
Lionsgate

Lionsgate announced on Tuesday that it has acquired a stake in the UK unscripted television production company Primal Media.

Primal was formed by “Gogglebox” format creators and executive producers Mat Steiner and Adam Wood. Their credits include UK formats “Release The Hounds,” “Cash Cab,” “The Code,” “The Exit List,” and “Breakaway,” among many others. Their formats have sold across the world, amassing over 15,000 episodes.

Primal Media has already secured its first two commissions with the third season of “Release The Hounds” and a second season of “The Code,” both for 2017.

Lionsgate will distribute Primal Media’s content worldwide and will produce formats owned by Primal Media for the U.S. and worldwide market.

“As Lionsgate’s Television Group expands its capabilities in the unscripted market, Mat and Adam are the perfect addition to our growing family of first-rate reality companies and best-in-class producers who are developing formats with global reach,” Lionsgate Television Group chairman Kevin Beggs said. “The deal is a win-win as it provides Mat and Adam the support they need to grow Primal Media while enabling Lionsgate to enhance our footprint in the UK, to expand the pipeline for our U.S. business and to access a fabulous library of product that can be distributed worldwide.”

This is the latest acquisition for Lionsgate, who recently announced that they would acquire the Starz network for $4.4 billion. In the past year, the company has also begun working with Pilgrim Studios and has developed several new unscripted series, including “Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian” and “Monica the Medium.”

The deal was negotiated by Laura Kennedy, executive vice president of TV operations and corporate development for Lionsgate; Alexandra Keen, executive vice president of business and legal affairs for Lionsgate UK; and Malcolm Murray, Lucy Strauss and Jeremy Gawade at Lee & Thompson representing Lionsgate and Michael Brader and Medwyn Jones at Wiggin representing Primal Media.

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