Germany’s Night Train Media acquires UK-based sales house BossaNova Media

German firm Night Train Media has acquired a majority stake in Paul Heaney’s new UK-based distributor BossaNova Media.

Paul Heaney

Herbert L Kloiber, former MD of Germany’s Tele München Group (TMG), launched Night Train at the start of 2020 as a developer, coproducer, financing partner and distribution specialist for in-house and third-party projects.

Heaney, the former founder and CEO of Cineflix Rights and TCB Media Rights, launched BossaNova with Dina Subhani in October last year following the collapse of TCB parent Kew Media, which saw the firm picked up by Beyond International against Heaney’s wishes.

The acquisition aligns with NTM’s strategy to seek synergies between its documentary and drama businesses, and to diversify its expanding portfolio.

Under the terms of the deal, BossaNova will have access to an acquisition fund to fulfil its mission to co-create and co-fund projects by matching the right producer with the most relevant platform or broadcaster.

Kloiber, CEO of Night Train Media, said: “As NTM continues to diversify and dive into the factual space, we are thrilled to have found BossaNova. Paul’s track record building distribution assets, his market standing and vision are second to none. We are hugely excited to be working together and to mark this exciting chapter in NTM’s expansion with the BossaNova team.”

Heaney added: “We feel we have met the perfect commercial and creative partners for BossaNova in NTM. With its Serafin backing, it has the necessary financial stability and integrity to assure we can grow BossaNova across the long term, not just the short, and get projects off the ground and on screen, coupled with a dedication to creating excellent content.

“Herbert and his team are TV people first and foremost, with the necessary business acumen to ensure resources are available, it’s a partnership that promises great things.”