Zinc Media Regulatory News (ZIN)

16 Sep 2005 07:00

Ten Alps PLC16 September 2005 For release 07.00am 16 September 2005 Launch of Ten Alps Midlands TV group Ten Alps PLC ('Ten Alps') announces the launch of Ten Alps Midlands, anew operating division producing factual television programmes, based on: * A year-long weekly regional political TV commission from the BBC, launching this Sunday. * Purchase by Ten Alps' subsidiary Ten Alps TV Limited, for cash, the production and development slate of Derbyshire-based TV production company Rock Hammer Productions Limited ('Rock Hammer'), and a contract with its founder, Charles Hunter, to produce and develop programmes. Located in Derby, Ten Alps Midlands is producing for BBC Midlands a twelve monthweekly political TV programme commission, The Politics Show, to launch thisSunday (18 September.) This is a new 20-minute, opt-out section of BBC 1'snetworked The Politics Show, produced for the BBC East Midlands region,featuring live political outside broadcasts, filmed reports and studio segmentsfrom around the region. Ten Alps Midlands is also currently negotiatingcontracts for two smaller commissions. Ten Alps Midlands has also today entered into a three year consultancy agreementwith Charles Hunter. Mr Hunter will work with Ten Alps Midlands with a view togetting the production and development slate purchased by Ten Alps Midlandscommissioned, as well as working with Ten Alps Midlands on future programmeconcepts. The consultancy agreement provides for profit-sharing in respect ofsuch commissions. Rock Hammer produced The Last Word for ITV Carlton, Cheating At Athens (inassociation with another company) for Channel 4 and Seven Natural Wonders of theMidlands for BBC2. Ten Alps Midlands will specialise in Ten Alps' group-wide core business offactual TV. It will be in a position to target regional quotas and incentivesfrom the BBC and other broadcasters, which many in the industry believe will besignificant. The acquisition cost, paid in cash, was not material in the context of the TenAlps group finances. Ten Alps owns four factual TV companies - Brook Lapping, 3BM TV, BlakewayProductions and Ten Alps TV and has a majority stake in another, Teachers' TV. Ends Contact: Alex Connock, Chief Executive, Ten Alps Plc Tel: 020 7786 9600 Jacqui Graves / Peter Binns, Binns & Co PR Limited Tel: 020 7786 9600 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange