Jeff Zucker’s RedBird IMI reportedly in position to buy All3Media from WBD, Liberty

All3Media’s psychological reality format The Traitors

RedBird IMI, the private investment company led by former CNN chief Jeff Zucker and Gerry Cardinale, is now in pole position to acquire All3Media.

According to a report in the Financial Times, RedBird IMI is in advanced talks to buy London-headquartered All3Media for around US$1.26bn and the companies could potentially enter exclusive negotiations later this month.

However, there is no certainty a deal will get done with RedBird IMI and other companies are still said to be interested.

All3Media, which is jointly owned by Warner Bros Discovery and John Malone’s Liberty Global, has been the subject of rabid speculation since it was put up for sale earlier this year.

Since then, multiple buyers have been in the frame to land the production and distribution group, but no deal has yet come to fruition.

Most recently, Banijay was tipped as the frontrunner to buy All3Media but has now dropped out of the running.

In July, ITV said it was “actively exploring” the possibility of buying All3Media, but the following month said it was no longer active in its interest but was continuing to monitor the situation.

Others that have previously been linked with a potential bid for All3Media include Peter Chernin’s The North Road Company, Sony and Goldman Sachs.

RedBird IMI, launched a year ago with a war chest of around US$1bn, is a joint venture between private investment firms RedBird Capital Partners and Abu Dhabi-based International Media Investments.

At the time of its launch, it said it was focused on acquiring and investing in “large-scale media, entertainment and sports content properties on a global basis.”

Last month, RedBird IMI said it had agreed to acquire UK-based publications The Telegraph and Spectator out of receivership. However, UK competition watchdog the Competition and Markets Authority is set to scrutinise the deal.

Over the summer, RedBird IMI backed the launch of a New York-based unscripted studio, EverWonder Studio, led by the former president and chief operating officer of Time, Ian Orefice.

All3Media, which produces and distributes titles including The Traitors, Googlebox, Wild Isles, Fleabag and Midsomer Murders, comprises more than 50 production labels and a distribution catalogue of more than 30,000.

The company enjoyed its best ever year in 2022, with revenue of £1.02bn (US$1.27bn) and £100.2m in EBITDA.