All3Media buys US producer Zoo

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

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All3Media has taken the first step towards creating "All3America" by acquiring US reality outfit Zoo Productions.

Chief executive Steve Morrison said the deal, for an undisclosed sum, would kickstart plans to create a new part of the business, which will consist of a group of UK and US production companies.

"Zoo is the perfect company to help us grow a version of All3Media in America, together with our companies which already produce in the US," Morrison told Broadcast. "I really think America is a very important growing market for British companies and particularly for All3Media."

Founded in 1994, Zoo's productions include Fox's gameshow hit Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, which it jointly owns with Mark Burnett Productions, as well as a growing slate of cable shows, including Tru TV's Speeders, MTV's Spring Break and Oxygen's Girls Behaving Badly.

As with All3's other acquisitions, Zoo partners Barry Poznick and John Stevens will retain their creative independence within the group, but will work closely with other All3Media subsidiaries.

"It will be good to have what I call an element of American ginger in the group; a genuine American production company with an American perspective," said Morrison.

Zoo will work on US adaptations of formats from All3 producers that are not currently active in the US. Morrison is also keen to bring other Zoo formats back to the UK. A UK version of Fifth Grader was commissioned by Sky One last year, after it acquired the rights from Reveille International.

The deal comes as UK indies are increasingly eyeing the US for acquisitions. In February, Shine snapped up Reveille for $200m, while IMG is reportedly in discussions to acquire Mark Burnett Productions, which produces The Apprentice and Survivor.

Morrison said All3Media was more interested in acquiring several smaller indies, rather than a larger player like Mark Burnett.

All3Media already has a presence in the US, through Lion Inc USA. It won an Emmy last week for gameshow Cash Cab and is currently in production on a sixth series of History Detectives for PBS.

All3's Company Pictures is currently executive producing the HBO drama series Generation Kill and Objective is producing a six-part Derren Brown series and a one-hour special for Sci Fi Channel. Maverick has been commissioned to make a second series of How to Look Good Naked by Lifetime.

Following the Zoo acquisition, turnover from North America will represent 14% of All3Media's annual sales on a pro-forma basis.