Zinc Media Regulatory News (ZIN)

1 Feb 2006 07:02

Ten Alps PLC01 February 2006 For Release 1 February 2006 Ten Alps plc: Acquisition Drama division launched by purchase of Cottage Industry Productions TV group Ten Alps plc ('Ten Alps') announces that it has launched Ten AlpsDrama, a new division formed through the acquisition of drama production companyCottage Industry Productions Limited, by its subsidiary, Ten Alps TV. The deal provides Ten Alps with two BBC1-financed projects, plus a number ofother scripts and drama developments, and brings in Cottage Industry's ManagingDirector Jo Willett as Head of Ten Alps Drama. Both BBC scripts are one-hour TV films planned for production in Summer 2006.These are Chris Hurford's A PLACE IN THE COUNTRY and Jonathan Harvey'sco-produced MAKING LOVE WITH GINNY AND SIMON. Ten Alps paid £74,647 in cash for the entire issued share capital of CottageIndustry Productions, against net assets of approximately £40,000. TV DRAMA PROJECTS Jo Willett's credits include BAFTA and RTS award-winning A RATHER ENGLISHMARRIAGE, Emmy Award-winning DIRTY TRICKS, and Meera Syal's recent LIFE ISN'TALL HA HA HEE HEE. Jo is the former Head of Drama at TV companies Wall to Walland SelecTV. She has signed a service contract with Ten Alps TV, which includessales and profit-related incentives. Projects on the development slate include a single drama for ITV from SimonBurke (writer on WHITE TEETH, SONS AND LOVERS); Patrick Hamilton's THE SLAVES OFSOLITUDE, with Andrew Davies attached to write; and Clare Morrall's novelASTONISHING SPLASHES OF COLOUR. Said Alex Connock, Ten Alps Chief Executive: "Drama is about expertise - and JoWillett is an expert. We are delighted to be working with her. On day one shenot only has her own impressive slate, but also a desk covered with dramaprojects and ideas from our existing companies." STRATEGY FOR TEN ALPS DRAMA Ten Alps Drama will share an office building in Shepherd's Bush with two TenAlps-owned factual production companies, 3BM TV and Blakeway Productions, bothof which have been making docudramas successfully in both the UK and US. Said Jo Willett, Cottage Industry's Executive Producer: "Going that extra stepfrom docudrama into pure drama is a next logical step for Ten Alps.Significantly, it tracks the way the TV business is going, with dramatized truestories appearing in prime-time slots. I look forward to working with Ten Alpsboth on factually-generated projects, and on mainstream fiction projects that Ibring to the company." Said Nitil Patel, Ten Alps Group Finance Director: "We plan to grow our dramabusiness over the next three years in the same way as we have fruitfullyapproached factual TV - a combination of internal investment and further nicheacquisitions." EDITORS' NOTES TEN ALPS PLC Ten Alps is a TV production group listed on AiM. It was co-founded in 1999 byAlex Connock (CEO) and Bob Geldof (Non-Exec). It now owns factual productioncompanies Brook Lapping, Blakeway Productions, 3BM TV, Ten Alps TV & Radio andTen Alps Midlands. It currently has around 20 programmes in production. Outputfrom group companies ranges from high-budget docudramas like THE FLIGHT THATFOUGHT BACK, which was the highest-rated programme on Discovery US in the pastfive years, to HIDDEN COUNTRY HOUSES for FIVE, or the forthcoming Channel 4series with historian Niall Ferguson THE LONG WAR. Brook Lapping also producessubstantial output for the Teachers' TV channel. JO WILLETT CV Jo produced BBC 1's three-parter LIFE ISN'T ALL HA HA HEE HEE, written by andstarring Meera Syal, for Hat Trick. At Carlton Television she produced BERTIEAND ELIZABETH and FORTYSOMETHING. For Littlebird and Carlton she produced theaward-winning DIRTY TRICKS, starring Martin Clunes and Julie Graham. As Head ofDrama at Wall to Wall she produced the BAFTA and RTS Award Winning A RATHERENGLISH MARRIAGE, and OUR BOY, starring Ray Winstone and Pauline Quirke as wellas executive producing the Screen Two BUMPING THE ODDS. She was Head of Dramaat SelecTV where her credits include PIE IN THE SKY, LOVE HURTS and HEARTS ANDMINDS. CONTACTS Ten Alps plc:Peter BinnsBinns & Co PR LtdTel: 0207 - 786 9600Mobile: 07768 392 582peter.binns@binnspr.co.uk Nitil PatelFinance DirectorTen Alps plc07990 578356nitil@tenalps.com www.tenalps.com Ten Alps DramaJo Willett07703 648282jowillett@cottagetv.co.uk This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange