ProSieben points Red Arrow at expansion

European broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 is restructuring to create a holding company called Red Arrow Entertainment Group as a vehicle for international expansion.

The group said the move was part of a strategy to expand and strengthen its international production, programme distribution and development activities.

Red Arrow will acquire and launch TV production companies across and outside the group’s 12-country footprint and establish development partnerships with talent worldwide.

The division will invest in formats and scripted shows that have international appeal and sales potential.

ProSiebenSat.1 group CEO Thomas Ebeling said: “We believe it is strategically essential to invest in and expand our content creation and distribution activities. With Red Arrow, we have formally established these businesses as key revenue pillars within our group.

“We expect Red Arrow and its growing portfolio of assets to provide valuable content to both our own channels and the broader market, and to further diversify the revenue sources of the ProSiebenSat.1 group.”

At launch, Red Arrow assets include prodcos such as Producers At Work, Magic Flight Film and Redseven Entertainment; the talent agency Redseven Artists; and international programme sales house SevenOne International.

Recently set-up development partnerships with Dick de Rijk and between Redseven Entertainment and Phil Gurin also fall under the Red Arrow umbrella. The group expects the first additions to the portfolio within six months.

Led by group MD Jan Frouman, Red Arrow’s Munich-based management team includes group directors Jens Richter (international distribution), Michael Schmidt (creative operations and business development) and John Jongerden (finance and operations).

Jongerden, a manager with 20 years experience in TV production, joined the group on January 15. Previously he served as a finance and operations advisor to FremantleMedia and RTL Group.

Richter will retain his role as MD of SevenOne International. Frouman will also continue as executive EVP of group content acquisitions at ProSiebenSat.1.