US giant takes full control of Killing Eve broadcaster for £32.5m

AMC Networks has taken full control of Killing Eve broadcaster BBC America, buying out BBC Studios’ majority share of the channel for $42m (£32.5m). 

The US giant has purchased the remaining 50.1% of the channel, which was set up as joint venture and now has full operational control, it revealed during its Q3 financial results. 

Killing Eve

Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh confront each other in an early series of Killing Eve

AMC Networks reported it closed the transaction on 1 November. It will “continue to fully consolidate BBC America” but has maintained a commercial relationship with BBCS to support the strength of the brand and programming.  

The basic cable channel had been originally set up in 1998 and AMC Networks paid $200m (£154.7m) in 2014, for 49.9% control. Before AMC boarded the channel’s programming included hit period adaptation The Musketeers, sci-fi smash Orphan Black and debut original drama Copper. 

Since its co-ownership, the channel’s programming has included Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, Terry Pratchett fantasy police procedural adaptation The Watch and the continuation of Orphan Black until 2017.  

However, the channel became synonymous with Killing Eve, which became a global smash when it launched in 2018. The Sid Gentle-produced series, based on Luke Jennings’ Villanelle novels, was created by Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge and starred Grey’s Anatomy stalwart Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer – helping propel the latter to becoming a household name in the UK screen sector.  

The show aired on BBC3 in the UK and ran for four series before ending in 2022. 

Reporting its Q3 results, AMC Networks chief exec Kristin Dolan said: “As we manage this business within a complex and changing environment, we remain focused on our key strategic pillars – programming, partnerships and profitability. During the quarter, we made significant advancements across all three areas.  

“We also entered into new and enhanced partnerships with major companies like Charter, Netflix, Amazon and others which are driving our company forward as we continue to provide distinctive, high-quality programming to customers across an expanding array of platforms.”