Sony Pictures Television has bought a majority stake in UK indie Silver River Productions as it continues to expand its international production business.
Silver River, headed by president Daisy Goodwin, produces a wide ranging slate of programmes including factual, arts and entertainment, comedy and drama series.
Its current credits include The Town That Never Retired for BBC1, Elizabeth Taylor – Queen of Diamonds for Channel 4 and Restoration Women for BBC4. Previous shows include the Supersizers franchise for BBC2 and Grow Your Own Drugs, also for BBC2.
SPT’s distribution arm will now represent Silver River’s catalogue internationally, beginning at MipTV in Cannes next month.
Silver River joins other UK indies in the SPT stable, joining Gogglebox Entertainment and Victoria Ashbourne’s Victory Television.
SPT also operates seven television channels in the UK, including Sony Entertainment Television and the Sony Movie Channel announced yesterday.
The takeover of Silver River also comes less than a month after C21 revealed Mike Morley, SPT’s executive VP and chief creative officer of its international production business, is stepping down.
Goodwin will retain her position as president of Silver River, which is based in London, and now reports to Andrea Wong, SPT’s president of international production.
Wong said: “I’ve known and admired Daisy for several years and I’m so happy to now have the chance to work closely with her and with her team. Their proven ambition and achievements are the perfect fit for our production network, where creativity and talent are the essential drivers in everything we do.”
Goodwin added: “Sony has a really alluring mix of great shows and real ambition. I know that working with Andrea and her team we will be bringing Silver River’s distinctive blend of originality and entertainment to the widest possible audience, and I am looking forward to bringing their best properties to the UK market.”
In January this year, SPT acquired five UK channels operated by Dolphin TV.
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