Sky has taken a majority stake in indie producer Blast! Films, the company behind Steve McQueen’s first film Hunger and Channel 4 documentary series The Night Bus and The Supervet.
The company will continue to operate separately under its existing management structure, providing shows to a variety of broadcasters. Sky Vision will take over distribution of Blast!’s shows, selling them to other broadcasters in the UK and internationally.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed but the sum paid by Sky is understood to be significantly less than it paid for a 70% stake in Benefits Street and Great British Bake Off producer Love Productions. Blast!’s 2014 revenues were £9m.
Blast! is Sky’s fourth indie acquisition after Love, Znak & Jones and Jupiter Entertainment in the US.
Sky Vision managing director Jane Millichip said: “Blast! Films has an incredible pedigree. Ed Coulthard is a first-class producer, and together with Claire Bosworth and team, they have a production slate that combines creative excellence with real commercial appeal.”
Founded in 1994 by Ed Coultard, Blast! started out focusing on high end drama productions such as the Bafta-winning Soundproof, before diversifying into observational documentaries such as Coppers, The Route Masters, and 999: What’s Your Emergency.
Coulthard said: “Sky really gets the Blast! Films DNA. As programme-makers we are passionate about quality and this is a great fit for us as we continue to evolve the company.”
