HomeNewsWiggin advises Blueprint Television on Sony Pictures Television investment deal

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LONDON – Corporate lawyers at media, technology and IP firm Wiggin have advised Blueprint Television on its investment deal with Sony Pictures Television.

The new venture led by Pete Czernin and Graham Broadbent of Blueprint Pictures will focus on high end, returning drama series that originate in the UK and can travel internationally, with Sony Pictures Television distributing around the globe.

Co-Chairmen Czernin and Broadbent and Managing Director Diarmuid McKeown will team up with executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins, who joins as Head of Television following his time at the helm of BAFTA-winning EastEnders (BBC) and before that Head of Development at Kudos’ Lovely Day, where he developed Grantchester (ITV).

Blueprint is launching the TV division on the back of the success of films including global box-office hit The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and its sequel The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths, as well as last year’s BBC1’s drama The Outcast.

Wiggin partner and co-head of its corporate practice, Michael Brader, led the team who advised Blueprint Television. Wiggin’s corporate practice is a UK leader in the independent TV M&A and investment transactions market.  Brader has advised on over 60 deals in the sector, including most recently Barcroft Media Group on its investment by Channel 4’s Growth Fund, Neal Street on its acquisition by All3Media, Mammoth Screen on its acquisition by ITV, Blast! Films on its sale to Sky, Endemol Shine on its investment in Douglas Road, Monumental TV on its investment by ITV, and Naked Entertainment and Full Fat TV on their investments by Fremantle.

This deal follows Sony Pictures TV’s minority stake investment in fast-rising UK producer Faye Ward’s production company Fable Pictures in March, on which Wiggin also advised.