Business
STV acquires stake in drama producer Two Cities
STV acquires stake in drama producer Two Cities.
About this update from Stv Group Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n \nRNS Number : 0621Z STV Group PLC 08 January 2020 \n\n \n \nPRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE\n \n8 January 2020\n \nSTV Productions acquires stake\n in high-end drama producer Two Cities\n \nSTV Productions has acquired a minority equity stake in drama producer Two Cities Television, the company behind critically acclaimed Patrick Melrose, commissioned by Sky Atlantic and CBS Showtime and starring Benedict Cumberbatch. \n \nThis partnership will further enhance STV's reputation as a leading producer of drama whilst providing Two Cities with creative and financial support as the business grows in scale in the UK and internationally. Both companies are also strongly positioned to address the growing market for drama production from the Nations and Regions, with STV Productions based in Scotland and London, and Two Cities based in Northern Ireland and London. Through the deal STV will have the opportunity to increase its initial 25% stake to a majority interest over the next three years.\n \nFounded in 2016, Two Cities is led by Michael Jackson, formerly Controller of BBC One and BBC Two, CEO of Channel 4, President of Programming at USA Entertainment and Chairman of Universal Television, and Creative Director Stephen Wright, formerly Head of Drama for BBC Northern Ireland where was executive producer of Line of Duty and The Fall and commissioned Bodyguard.\n \nWith a strong development slate, Two Cities is currently developing a series based on Michael Wolff's Donald Trump epic Fire and Fury in partnership with Topic Studios and a drama for the BBC based on David Burke's book, The Spy Who Came In From The Co-Op: Melita Norwood and the Ending of Cold War Espionage, alongside a range of other returnable series and high profile international events. \n \nThe track record of STV Productions in-house drama team, led by Creative Director of Drama, Sarah Brown, has been significantly enhanced by recent successes including critically acclaimed TV film Elizabeth is Missin...