Fremantle Acquires ‘All or Nothing: Arsenal’ Producer 72 Movies

Fremantle has acquired a majority stake in David Glover and Mark Raphael’s factual powerhouse 72 Movies, the producers behind “9/11: One Day in America,” “The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty” and “All or Nothing: Arsenal.”

The deal is the newest in a string of acquisitions for the Bertelsmann and RTL Group-owned Fremantle, which has been increasing aggressively in scripted within the final yr. The acquisition of 72 Movies is a serious coup within the non-scripted area for the corporate contemplating the manufacturing firm’s wonderful monitor document of documentary hits.

Below the deal, Fremantle says it should present 72 Movies with its “world infrastructure, distribution, and specialist assist” throughout the 27 territories wherein it operates. The deal “reaffirms Fremantle’s dedication and ambition to develop its world documentaries proposition working with the perfect filmmaking expertise,” mentioned the corporate, which has been pushing into premium documentary lately.

The deal was spearheaded by Fremantle U.Okay. CEO Simon Andreae, who not too long ago joined Cara Delevingne on stage in Cannes at Mipcom for the model-actor’s uproarious and well-received panel to advertise “Planet Intercourse.” (Andreae was an government producer on the present.)

72 Movies’ latest TV productions embody BBC documentary collection “The Elon Musk Present,” which gives an intimate story uncovering how Musk turned the world’s richest man (which was distributed globally by Fremantle), and the two-part Netflix documentary “Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story.” This follows on from 72 Movies’ Emmy-award successful historic documentary collection, “9/11: One Day in America,” which was nominated in six classes.

Glover and Raphael, co-founders of 72 Movies, mentioned: “At this stage of 72’s growth, there are nice benefits and alternatives of becoming a member of forces with Fremantle. Their intensive worldwide infrastructure and experience will present 72 Movies with the platform to have our work seen internationally. We all know and like their wonderful crew. And so they provide us not solely unbelievable assist however full inventive freedom so we will proceed to work in the identical method.”

Jennifer Mullin, Group CEO for Fremantle, added: “Fremantle is proud to speculate and work with the perfect inventive minds within the enterprise. David and Mark, and their crew at 72 Movies are distinctive skills, all of whom take huge pleasure of their storytelling and filmmaking, and we’re thrilled to have them a part of our household.”

Simon Andreae, CEO for Fremantle U.Okay., mentioned: “Mark, David and the 72 household have developed an unrivalled fame for telling the world’s most fascinating tales with actual freshness and aptitude. We’re delighted to welcome them into the Fremantle household and stay up for supporting them in no matter methods we will as they proceed to develop and flourish.”

Fremantle’s funding in 72 Movies follows acquisitions over the previous 12 months that embody U.Okay. manufacturing firm Dancing Ledge (“The Responder”), scripted Italian manufacturing firm Lux Vide (“Devils,” “Leonardo”), worldwide growth and manufacturing firm Fabel (“Bosch”), Australian-American tv manufacturing firm Eureka Productions (“Parental Steering”) and U.Okay. unscripted manufacturing firm Label1 (“Hospital”), 12 manufacturing labels in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark from Nordic Leisure Group (That is Good Group), and most not too long ago, Irish manufacturing firm Factor Footage (“Regular Individuals”).

Final August, RTL Group introduced its purpose to extend Fremantle’s full-year income goal to €3 billion by 2025. In a latest interview with Selection at Mipcom, Fremantle boss Mullin mentioned the corporate is “on monitor” to hit its eye-watering targets.

“Final yr was our largest income yr and this yr we’ll exceed even that,” acknowledged Mullin, who added that Latin America and India are the corporate’s “precedence areas” going ahead

72 Movies was suggested by ACF Funding Financial institution with industrial assist from Matisse.

(Pictured: David Glover, Mark Raphael, Jennifer Mullin, Simon Andreae)