Sky has a Blast with prodco deal

European satcaster Sky has taken a majority stake in Blast! Films, the indie behind shows including The Supervet, The Route Masters and 999: What’s Your Emergency?.

Sky Vision MD
Jane Millichip

Blast was founded in 1994 by Ed Coulthard, who will continue to manage the firm with MD Claire Bosworth, and produces programmes and films for a variety of broadcasters.

Sky’s international distribution business, Sky Vision, will sell new formats and shows for Blast!, which has also been behind Steve McQueen’s debut feature film Hunger and Channel 4 opera The Death of Klinghoffer.

Existing agreements with other broadcasters and distributors will remain unchanged.

Coulthard said the deal “allows us to continue to attract great talent, keep raising the bar and be ambitious about what we can achieve.” Financial details were not disclosed.

Jane Millichip, MD at Sky Vision, added that the prodco “combines creative excellence with real commercial appeal.”

Sky’s acquisition strategy has already seen it take stakes in producers including Jupiter Entertainment, Love Productions and Znak & Jones, which have all partnered with Sky Vision on domestic and international distribution.

Sky Vision also has development deals with prodcos such as Ugly Brother Studios in the US, as well as Spring Films, Hungry Bear Media and Roughcut TV in the UK.