5 Sep 2013 11:33
DCD Media plc
("DCD" or "the Group")
New commissions and senior appointment
DCD Media plc, the independent TV production and distribution group, is pleased to announce that Matchlight, the Group's Glasgow based factual TV producer, has won new commissions with a combined value of approximately £620,000, and has appointed Paul Murray as Creative Director, New Markets.
The new commissions include a one hour documentary for BBC Two on how polio was cured, which will involve working, for the first time, with the BBC's Economics Editor, Stephanie Flanders. Matchlight has also recently started work on its first series commission for BBC Scotland, 'Viva Variety' (working title), a series of four half hour episodes; and a one hour documentary, also for BBC Scotland, to mark Burn's Night at the start of the year of the Commonwealth Games. Furthermore, Channel 4 has commissioned a one hour documentary entitled 'Jockey School'. Matchlight is also currently completing production on two series for BBC Two and BBC Four presented by Amanda Vickery and Helen Castor to be transmitted in 2013/14.
Alongside the new commissions, Matchlight has appointed Paul Murray to the newly created senior role of Creative Director, New Markets, as part of a major investment in Matchlight's team by DCD Media.
Murray, as the creator of hit shows including 'Location, Location, Location' (Channel 4) and 'Antiques Road Trip' (BBC), is one of Scotland's leading features and factual entertainment producers. Previously Head of Objective Scotland, Murray will focus on winning commissions in features, daytime and factual entertainment. His expertise and credentials complement those of Matchlight's established team, including Creative Director Ross Wilson.
His appointment follows a joint announcement by the BBC and Channel 4 in July of this year that they intend to source more returning popular factual series from Scotland's independent production sector.
David Craven, CEO, DCD Media, said: "This is a significant move for Matchlight, a company that has built a strong reputation in factual television in just over four years. It is timely for the DCD Media group to support Matchlight's expansion with targeted investment to enable it to capitalize on its solid foundations and capture a larger share of the out-of-London market as new opportunities arise."
David Smith, Managing Director, Matchlight, added: "Both the BBC and Channel 4 have asked for more returning series from Scotland, Matchlight has moved quickly to answer that demand. We aim to grow significantly in the next three years, winning more commissions in our existing areas of strength as well as developing new markets for our programmes."
All of Matchlight's output is distributed internationally by DCD Media's wholly owned sales company DCD Rights.
END
About Matchlight
Based in Glasgow and founded in 2009, Matchlight specializes in documentary, specialist factual and popular factual television. Having won a Scottish BAFTA for Best Factual Series in November 2012, Afghanistan: The Great Game - A Personal View by Rory Stewart, and as well as RTS and Grierson nominations for its output, Matchlight is the only production company in Scotland run by a team that have won, between them, International Emmy, BAFTA, Scottish BAFTA, RTS and Broadcast awards.
The company's customers include BBC One, ITV1, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four, BBC Scotland, Channel 4 and Channel 5. Matchlight is led by Ross Wilson, Creative Director and a BAFTA and International Emmy Award winning documentary maker. It is part of production and distribution group DCD Media. More info on www.matchlight.co.uk
For further information please contact:
Nahid Burke, Investor Relations
DCD Media plc
Tel: 020 8 563 6976
Stuart Andrews/Charlotte Stranner
finnCap
Tel: 020 7220 0500