Unscripted sports specialist label exits Sony stake after five years

Sunil Humphrey

Sunil Patel, David Coulthard and Jake Humphrey

Sports, documentary and unscripted specialists The Whisper Group is returning to private ownership after five years with Sony Pictures Television.

SPT is divesting its 30% shareholding in the company after a period in which Whisper’s profit and revenue grow by almost 500%.

Using external finance to return to private ownership, Whisper’s ambition is to create an employee equity scheme and allow the management team, led by chief executive and founder Sunil Patel, to drive new growth.

Whisper will continue to work with SPT through strategic partnerships and will also continue to deliver entertainment programmes including Wheel of Fortune and other sports and media projects together.

Whisper was founded in 2010 by Sunil Patel, Jake Humphrey and David Coulthard and was accelerated by Channel 4’s Growth Fund in 2015. SPT then came on board in 2020 following C4’s exit.

With SPT, Whisper’s revenue grew from circa £20m to £100m during the partnership, which also saw the establishment of Whisper North and Whisper Cymru as part of its genre and market expansion.

The decision to exit SPT was made in consultation with Whisper’s shareholders, with confidence to position the group as “one of the most entrepreneurial, disruptive and innovative leaders in the sector” according to a statement.

“Five years ago, Whisper set off on a journey to become a multi-genre production company. That has been absolutely delivered – creatively, commercially and culturally - with revenue up nearly 500%,” said Patel.

“It would not have been possible without our bold vision and partnership with Sony, which helped elevate Whisper to a truly global force, so huge thanks to Wayne and the wider Sony team.”

SPT’s international production president Wayne Garvie added: “We have had a brilliant partnership for five years, from Wheel of Fortune to Wimbledon, so many great moments and I’m sure that the many parts of the wider Sony family will continue to find ways of working with The Whisper Group, as we will in International production.”

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