Global production and distribution firm Fremantle has acquired a majority stake in UK-based TV production company 72 Films.

72 Films credits include Prime Video’s Arsenal: All Or Nothing, the Emmy award-winning 9/11: One Day In America and Netflix’s Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story.

Most recently, 72 Films produced the BBC series The Elon Musk Show, about the rise of the billionaire entrepreneur, which was distributed globally by Fremantle.

In a statement, 72 Films founders David Glover and Mark Raphael said they will retain “complete creative freedom”.

Jennifer Mullin, group CEO of Fremantle, said: “Fremantle is proud to invest and work with the very best creative minds in the business. David and Mark, and their team at 72 Films are exceptional talents, all of whom take enormous pride in their storytelling and filmmaking, and we are thrilled to have them part of our family.”

The announcement follows a string of recent acquisitions for Fremantle, including UK-Irish production company Element Pictures, UK companies Dancing Ledge and Label1, Italy’s Lux Vide, Australian-US TV firm Eureka Productions and international company Fabel, as well as 12 production labels from the Nordic Entertainment Group.

Last year, RTL Group – which owns Fremantle – set out a €3bn full-year revenue target for the company to hit by 2025.

 

📸BBC