PASSION DISTRIBUTION ANNOUNCES THE BUSINESS'S HALF YEAR RESULTS ON A HIGH!
July 1st, 2010 - It has been a quick journey to build a business capable of making so much happen for its producers and set to turnover £10 million in 2010 – only its second full year of trading. Passion Distribution launched at MIPCOM October 2008 right at the start of the global recession – obviously not planned that way - and it meant the first trading year for Passion throughout 2009 was a tough one with many territories freezing their acquisitions budgets as broadcasters took stock of the ad revenue downturn and other tough economic factors. Throughout 2009 Passion’s CEO, Sally Miles, focused on content relationships, building the catalogue ready for an upturn and a renewed need for content to fill schedules. That upturn is now being experienced and 18 months on the company is proud to announce that it has turned over £4.5 million for the first six months of 2010 on behalf of its producers, equal to it’s entire prior year turnover. From the start Passion attracted many key content suppliers including prolific US producers World of Wonder who in recent years have built strong brands with talent in ongoing series from Tori & Dean now in its 5th season with an upcoming spin-off and last year launched RU PAUL’S DRAG RACE, now commissioned for a third season and launching this year a mainstream spin off RU PAUL’S DRAG U. Passion also signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Lifetime Television for the US broadcaster’s non-fiction content with a catalogue of over 500 hours of programming. UK companies including True North Productions, itself having experienced prolific growth in recent years and being a key supplier to many UK channels with long running series for BBC1 ANIMAL 24:7 (isn’t this a BBC show?), TOO BUILD OR NOT TO BUILD in production for BBC 1 and a slate of crime series and specials for BBC1 and C&I Channel in the UK . Also Landmark Productions with their popular human story documentaries and series including BABY BEAUTY QUEENS and special SEX ROBOT went with Passion for the distribution of their programming. Passion started 2010, its second trading year, with a fantastic coup confirming exclusive distribution for Scripps Networks International and its US domestic channel content from Food Network, HGTV and DIY Network. This saw the company launch an exciting Scripps Networks International catalogue of over 450 hours of primetime lifestyle content at MIPTV April 2010 including DESIGN STAR produced by Mark Burnett and the globally renowned ACE OF CAKES now in its 8th season. Passion is working alongside Scripps international channel roll out of Food Network and the Fine Living Network and will be launching in excess of 100 hours of all new Scripps titles at MIPCOM in October. And so, what is the company’s strategy for the future? Miles says she has worked hard to explore more opportunities in the US market for UK independent producers looking to expand on their successes in the UK and feels this is what sets us apart from traditional distributors. It is vital to UK companies to now make the global arena work for them and to really play a part in making things happen and getting new projects into production. This year Miles took Leeds based Daisybeck to America and into production on a series TOO FAT FOR 15: FIGHTING BACK for the Style Network. Miles played a vital part in ensuring that a one hour BBC documentary TOO FAT FOR 15 with a British teen, Georgia, shot at a US weight loss academy led to a new series in which Daisybeck follows 5 American teenagers all fighting extreme weight issues. The series will air on Style Network in August. Miles also took Landmark Productions to the US for the first time this year seeing Nick O’Dwyer’s indie into a co-production agreement with Discovery Health on a ground breaking special SEX ROBOT. Miles says sadly they won’t be bringing the robot to MIPCOM in October. “There is enough Passion going on on our stand!” Miles wants to build on this and other US successes of 2009/10 and fully exploit her access to US networks and instinct for content that will work in the American market by representing more UK independents and specific formats and projects that have the potential to be funded or co-funded with US broadcast partners. As for the business growth, working closely with Passion’s Finance Director Nick Rees, Miles has expanded the sales team led by Passion’s Director of Sales, Emma Simpkins. Both Nick and Emma sit on the Management Board at Passion and play a vital role in the ongoing growth strategy and success of the business.
