Move comes alongside refocusing on originals for FAST and digital channels
Australia’s WTFN Group is restructuring its operations by combining digital outfit Radar and traditional TV distributor Fred Media into a single entity.
The two companies will be brought together as Radar Studios, with a focus on maximising legacy IP but also prioritising the creation of a new pipeline of originals.
The nascent entity is made up of three divisions, including a network arm that will manage owned and operated FAST and digital channels such as Bondi Vet, Real Emergency and Untamed.
A distribution unit will represent owned and third-party content, while the content division operates across acquiring third-party content, as well as funding, developing and creating new originals for the channels and distribution teams
Radar Studios will be led by chief commercial officer Derek Dyson, with other changes seeing Jamie I, who joined Fred Media earlier this year as APAC sales manager, adding acquisitions to his remit.
Long-time consultant Kate Llewellyn-Jones will continue her remit to find, create and fund content and build partnerships for the business.
Dyson said he would be working with WTFN’s recently appointed head of development, Michael McDermott, and chief creative officer, Steve Oemcke, to use “data, trends and market intel” to support new content.
He added: “Content supply is one of the major challenges in our business today, so we’ve developed Radar Studios to reduce potential risk and help provide a pipeline for a more sustainable model.
“We will continue to maximise the enviable legacy IP that we have in the business – most fully-owned by WTFN - and have also recently established a new fund to invest in and acquire high-quality third-party content.”
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