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Sony buys Embassy Row
Sony Pictures TV (SPT) has acquired Embassy Row, the New York-based production company run by British reality veteran Michael Davies, further consolidating the US non-scripted space.
The deal builds on Davies' three-year studio deal with SPT, which was coming to an end, and brings Davies back into the Sony fold. He began his career working for gameshow maverick Merv Griffin, whose company had been acquired by Sony.
Davies, who is responsible for taking Who Wants to be a Millionaire? stateside in 1999, will remain in New York along with his 17-strong workforce.
It is understood that the key to the Embassy acquisition was the fact that Sony bought Millionaire distributor 2waytraffic last year for US$223m. Davies is expected to bring his expertise in exploiting European formats around the world to the table as part of the deal.
Davies has taken a number of European formats stateside as well as Millionaire, such as RDF's Wife Swap (ABC), Objective Productions' Balls of Steel (A&E) and World's Ends' Top Buzzer (Comedy Central). Other big shows include Grand Slam and Power of 10.
More recently Embassy has moved into the digital and branded entertainment business with The 9, American Idol Buzz season and Hook Me Up.
The move is the latest in a slew of reality acquisitions stateside, such as Shine's acquisition of Reveille and Endemol's purchase of a controlling stake in 51 Minds.
Jules Grant
14 Jan 2009
© C21 Media 2009
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