Tinopolis continues buying spree by acquiring Firecracker
Tinopolis, one of the UK's largest independent TV production and distribution firms, has acquired indie producer Firecracker Films, best-known for the hit Channel 4 series Big Fat Gypsy Weddings.
The deal comes just a week after the acquisition of Passion Distribution and further underpins Tinopolis' strategy of widening its creative and geographical reach. Tinopolis says that Firecracker's strength in factual programming is “a significant addition to Tinopolis' portfolio of companies and programmes”.
Firecracker was founded in 2002 by Mark Soldinger to focus on documentary programming with international sales potential and is now one of the fastest growing factual and factual entertainment producers both in the UK and the US, achieving organic revenue growth of over 150% in 2012. It works with all major broadcasters in the UK and is one of only a few UK Indies that has successfully expanded into the US and now generates as much turnover from the US as it does from the UK. Firecracker also has a branded content division that produces content directly for brands such as Diageo, Nissan, Heineken, Motorola and GSK.
Commenting on the deal, Ron Jones, Executive Chairman of Tinopolis, said: "In Firecracker, we have acquired a company that is operating at the cutting edge of television on both sides of the Atlantic. Tinopolis continues to build a group of companies that has the range and financial strength to provide the best creative ideas to our customers around the world. Firecracker is an ideal partner for us. Its programmes are already sold in over 100 territories and our distribution platform will help to support its development."
Mark Soldinger added: "We have been conscious for some time of the requirement for a financial and operational partner that will allow us to sustain Firecracker's rapid growth over the long term. Tinopolis's existing capabilities and its forward strategy marked it out as our partner of choice and we look forward to working with the wider Group on developing the opportunities ahead."
