Essential enters US JV with Quail

Australian producer Essential Media and Entertainment has set up a US joint venture with factual outfit Quail Television.

Greg Quail

Essential Quail Television (EQTV) is based in LA and is led by executive producer Greg Quail from Quail TV, Chris Hilton from Essential and Jesse Fawcett from the Aussie producer’s US arm.

Several shows are already in production, including DIY series Texas Flip N Move for Scripps Network, spin-offs Louisiana Flip N Move and Alaska Flip N Move, and 13×60’ restoration series Restored.

Quail has been behind shows including Real Top Guns for SBS, Saving Babies for Network Ten and Find My Family for Seven Network, as well as Crossing the Ice for National Geographic Channel.

Founder Greg Quail recently opened a production office in LA and the newly established joint venture aims to expand its lifestyle programming in the US market.

Essential Media USA will continue to develop scripted and unscripted projects outside the lifestyle genre.

Chris Hilton

Essential has also bolstered its production and development arms, adding veteran exec Joel Rizor as chief executive producer and Lindsay Wilkinson as executive in charge of a newly recruited production department.

Meanwhile, former Essential Media USA and RTR Media development producer Paul Taylor has joined EQTV as head of development, while Lauren Kalb-Black becomes head of casting and Katelynn Walker joins as director of development.

“Establishing Essential Quail Television is the logical next step in the US market for Essential Media and Entertainment,” said co-CEO of EQTV and CEO of Essential Media and Entertainment Chris Hilton.

“Greg’s unmatched creative drive complements our existing Essential USA business perfectly.”