Discovery snaps up Betty

Discovery Communications has acquired its first indie, in the shape of the UK’s Betty, producer of shows including BBC and TLC eating obsession series Freaky Eaters.

Betty will develop and produce new ideas and formats for Discovery’s entire portfolio of factual and lifestyle channels.

But the US factual giant said the deal was primarily designed to broaden the array of programming available to female-skewing TLC. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Betty, whose Freaky Eaters format started out on UK diginet BBC3 and has since been commissioned for two localised runs on TLC in the US, will continue to operate independently of Discovery’s London headquarters. All of Betty’s current staff will be retained.

The indie was founded in 2001 by former BBC and Channel 4 commissioning editor Liz Warner and counts factual formats such as Beauty and the Beast, Food Hospital and Country House Rescue among its other credits.

Warner, plus head of production Sophy Walker and creative director Walter Iuzzolino, will now have the backing to further expand their output internationally, while Discovery in parallel ramps up its plans to extend TLC’s presence around the globe.

Warner said the deal “gives us the freedom to be a thriving UK producer and gives Discovery the benefit of our increasing number of formats and series for their international business.”

Lee Bartlett, Discovery executive VP of global production management, business and legal affairs, said: “We are looking forward to Betty infusing our ever-expanding creative pipeline with award-winning storytelling that will be seen on TLC and Discovery’s channels around the world.”

The deal will also give Discovery the option to acquire formats from Betty that have previously been produced from the company’s programming library.