Sky Vision bolsters first-look strategy

The international distribution arm of UK satcaster Sky has reached first-look agreements with two of the country’s indies to develop programming with worldwide appeal.

Sky Vision is teaming up with indies ACME Films and Spark Media Partners, the first time the two companies have worked with Sky.

ACME specialises in drama and factual programming, and is owned by Jaimie D’Cruz, who is known for his multi award-winning documentary about guerilla artist Banksy, Exit Through The Gift Shop, and Francesca Newby, previously director of production at Dragonfly.

Recent commissions have included original drama series Run, which starred Olivia Colman for Channel 4.

Spark Media Partners is a newly-formed format-focused prodco owned by Steve Havers and Mark Baker, who previously ran format house Mast Media, which is known for its Oblivious gameshow format that aired in more than 20 territories.

The company’s new secret dating format Undercover Cupid started airing on NickMoms in the US on August 2.

Havers, co-founder of Spark, said: “Setting up a production company was the natural next step for Mark and me. We are now able to take control of the whole life cycle of our ideas, from initial spark of inspiration, through the production process and ultimately to worldwide distribution.”

Sky Vision, formed when Sky bought independent distributor Parthenon Entertainment in 2012, already works with Ugly Brother Studios in the US, as well as Back2Back Productions and Roughcut TV in the UK.

It is also now the distribution partner for Bake Off-creators Love Productions following Sky’s purchase of a majority stake in the business last month.