Input Media, one of Europe’s leading sports production companies, has been acquired by Gravity Media Group, a holding company that owns, operates and acquires businesses serving the live broadcast sector globally.
Under the terms of the multi-million pound deal announced today (Tuesday), Input Media will retain its branding, current leadership team and staff, and continue to serve its client base.
The takeover represents the first major acquisition that GMG has made since securing substantial funding from investment management firm TowerBrook Capital Partners in September 2016 to aid future growth.
The deal will enable Gravity Media Group to diversify its businesses into new areas and broaden the global service offering. It will also strengthen GMG’s ability to provide end-to-end solutions including high-end production and technical facilities.
The agreement also opens the door to new commercial models for emerging technologies such as remote production, with Input Media overseeing productions from its London headquarters and GMG subsidiary Gearhouse Broadcast handling the onsite facilities.
“With many broadcasters and content owners looking to outsource their production and facilities requirements we found we were receiving more and more requests for these end-to-end type services,” John Newton, chief executive at Gravity Media Group, said. “When we started to think about servicing these requests we identified Input Media as the ideal partner very early on. They are well respected with a strong track record for excellence and an established leadership already in place who we know very well.”
Input Media's founder, David Wood, who will remain as chairman, added: “We've built the company over the years on a foundation of strong production values and technical expertise, so I’m delighted that we’ve found a partner in Gravity Media Group that shares these beliefs and will help us to continue to grow our business both in the UK and internationally.”
Input Media’s clients include European football’s governing body Uefa, the English Football Association, UK public-service broadcaster the BBC and commercial broadcaster ITV, the French Tennis Federation (FFT), the International Tennis Federation, the Pitch International agency, boxing-focused UK pay-television broadcaster BoxNation and Premier League football clubs Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.