ITV

Tag: Peter Roth

  • Warner Bros TV signs acquisition of Eyeworks’ operations in 15 countries, except US

    Warner Bros TV signs acquisition of Eyeworks’ operations in 15 countries, except US

    MUMBAI: Warner Bros Television Group has entered into an agreement to acquire independent television production company Eyeworks Group’s businesses in 15 countries across Europe, South America, Australia and New Zealand for $273 million.

     

     

    The acquisition, which does not include Eyeworks’ operations in the US, will add 13 new territories to Warner Bros Television’s network of production companies, according to a statement from Warner Bros Television.

     

     

    Once completed, this acquisition will further strengthen Warner Bros’ international television production capabilities and also see Warner Bros take over all of Eyeworks’ international distribution activities.

     

     

    Warner Bros Television is expected to complete the acquisition of Eyeworks later in 2014, subject to regulatory approvals.

     

     

    The announcement was made by Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution President Jeffrey Schlesinger, Warner Bros Television Group President, Business and Strategy Craig Hunegs, Warner Bros Television Group President and Chief Content Officer Peter Roth and Eyeworks Group Founder and current Chief Executive Officer Reinout Oerlemans.

     

     

    Founded in The Netherlands by Oerlemans in 2001, Eyeworks is a major international independent producer and distributor of scripted and non-scripted content across a range of genres, including entertainment, drama and film, which airs in more than 150 countries worldwide.

     

     

    The acquisition of Eyeworks will mark a milestone for Warner Bros International Television Production, led by Warner Bros International Television Production  Head and Executive Vice President Ronald Goes, which was originally formed in 2009 to establish operating production companies.

     

     

    Warner Bros Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Kevin Tsujihara said: “Our proposed acquisition of Eyeworks’ 15 local production companies, represents a significant next step in our strategy, further strengthening Warner Bros’ position in global television.”  

     

     

    Hunegs, Schlesinger and Roth added: “This is an important move for the Warner Bros Television Group, as we establish local production companies around the world, each with a mandate to develop original local programming and adapt the output from the studio. We see Eyeworks as a strong complement to our existing US and international production capabilities.”

     

     

    This follows the acquisition in 2010 of Shed Media, a leading production company in the UK, and in 2011, BlazHoffski in The Netherlands and Belgium.

     

     

    In connection with the transaction, Reinout Oerlemans would move to Los Angeles for his new role in the industry, as Chairman of Eyeworks USA, leading the further expansion of that company in the US. Reinout will step down as CEO of the Eyeworks Group once the acquisition is completed.

     

     

    Oerlemans said: “For Eyeworks, this is a defining step towards our ongoing objective to be a major player in content production around the globe. I realise this is the end of an era, because I will no longer be the CEO of the Group, after an amazing period of 12.5 years.”

  • Peter Roth extends tenure as president at Warner Bros.TV

    Peter Roth extends tenure as president at Warner Bros.TV

    MUMBAI: One of the most successful and respected executives working in television today, Peter Roth, has signed a long-term deal extending his tenure as Warner Bros. Television president, while expanding his duties to include oversight of the newly created Warner Horizon Television.

    The newly created television arm is designed to create lower-budget scripted and reality primetime series for network and cable. These announcements were made today by Warner Bros. Television (WBTV) group president Bruce Rosenblum.

    “Peter’s track record at Warner Bros. Television really speaks for itself, not just in the quantity of successful shows he’s launched, but more importantly, in the quality of the series created under his leadership,” said Rosenblum. “To say that we’re absolutely thrilled that Peter will be with us for many, many more years would be a gross understatement. He is truly the best in class. His creative instincts and execution, as well as his relationships with people both in front of and behind the cameras, from the writers’ rooms to the network boardrooms, are unmatched.

    “As the television business continues to change and business models evolve, Warner Horizon Television will enable us to take more creative risks,” continued Rosenblum. “We’re incredibly excited about the prospect of this new television arm at the Studio and know that it couldn’t be in better hands than Peter’s.”

    Roth joined Warner Bros. Television as its president in March 1999 and has maintained the company’s position as the industry’s preeminent producer of award winning primetime television series. In addition to being the most prolific television studio in Hollywood the last three years, WBTV has been the leading supplier of primetime series 16 of the last 19 television seasons. For the 2005-2006 season, WBTV placed 33 series on the primetime schedule, including a record 17 returning series, 11 new series and five midseason series.

    During his tenure, Roth has been responsible for such series as the multiple Emmy Award winning The West Wing, Two and a Half Men, Without a Trace, The O.C., Cold Case, Veronica Mars, Gilmore Girls, Smallville, George Lopez, Supernatural, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Nip/Tuck and The Closer, as well as the successful continuation of such series as Friends and ER.

    Prior toWBTV, Roth served as Fox Broadcasting Company president. There, he was responsible for the development and programming of the Emmy Award-winning Ally McBeal, That ’70s Show, Family Guy and King of the Hill. He also held posts as president of 20th Century Fox Television, Twentieth Network Television (currently 20th Century Fox Television), and of Production at Twentieth Network Television, where he oversaw such hits as the multiple Emmy Award winning Picket Fences, The X-Files, The Practice, Chicago Hope and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

    Before working at Twentieth, Roth was president of Stephen J. Cannell Productions, where he was involved with the creation and sale of such critically acclaimed series as 21 Jump Street, Wiseguy and The Commish.

    Roth began his television career at the ABC Television Network in children’s programming where he served as both a manager and later a director before moving into current programming where held both director and vice president posts, states an official release.