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ITV acquires Elk Production

Elk Productions is behind Wahlgrens

ITV Studios has taken a majority stake in Swedish prodco Elk Production, a subsidiary of Elk Entertainment Group.

The Stockholm-based production label is known for producing entertainment shows including quiz En Ska Bort (Odd One Out), Wahlgrens and Parneviks.

The deal, financial details of which were not disclosed, will see Elk Production combine with ITV Studios’ existing Swedish production business, with the amalgamated companies operating under the brand ITV Studios Sweden.

Elk Production’s current MD, Anna Rydin, will lead ITV Studios Sweden, reporting to Mike Beale, who was recently made MD of Nordics and Global Creative Network at ITV Studios.

Elk Production has 15 shows in production or on air across Sweden’s free-to-air and pay TV channels, including Drömpyramiden (Stacked), Ett jobb för Berg (A Job for Berg) and Superskaparna (Supercrafters).

Anna Rydin

It has also produced local versions of international formats including Ninja Warriors, Superstars and Top Chef: Just Desserts. ITV Studios Sweden, meanwhile, has produced Come Dine With Me for TV4 since 2008. It is also producing This Time Next Year for SVT.

Elk Formats, also part of Elk Entertainment Group, is not included in the acquisition and remains part of Elk Entertainment.

However, ITV Studios will be Elk’s exclusive formats partner in the Nordics with the right to produce shows, including Stacked and All Inclusive, through ITV Studios’ production companies in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway.

Elk Entertainment has issued a statement saying it will “focus solely on the development and distribution of content IP” following the transaction. In the past, its founders also developed formats such as Minute to Win It, Clash of the Choirs and The Farm.

Elk Production and ITV Studios Sweden will integrate in the latter’s current offices following the Swedish summer break.

“Combining the force of both ITV Studios and Elk Production, along with Talpa and Twofour formats, we become one of the leading formats companies in the Nordics,” said Maria Kyriacou, president of ITV Studios International.

Estelle Bodén, MD of Elk Entertainment, added: “Elk Entertainment will continue to be an independent global player in content development.”

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