Zinc Media Group acquires Raw Cut, ITV Studios buys Eagle Eye

Raw Cut has a strong reputation in ‘Blue Light’ programming, including popular series such as Road Wars and Police Interceptors.

Founded in 2002, the indie has made 800 hours of factual television and has long-standing partnerships with Netflix, Sky, BBC, Channel 4, ITV, and Discovery. It has production centres in London and Cardiff, and also brings an international distribution division, based in London.

Raw Cut joins a number of production companies owned by Zinc Media Group, including Atomic, Brook Lapping, Rex, Red Sauce, Supercollider, Tern TV and Bumblebee.

Mark Browning, CEO of Zinc Media Group, said: “Their expertise in ‘Blue Light’ and documentary programming aligns perfectly with our vision for world-class factual content. This acquisition strengthens our production capabilities, expands our IP catalogue, and reinforces our commitment to regional storytelling.”

Meanwhile, ITV Studios has acquired a majority stake in Eagle Eye Drama, which was launched in 2018 by Walter Luzzolino, Jo McGrath and Jason Thorp, the team also behind international drama streaming service, Walter Presents on Channel 4.

Eagle Eye, which has been part of Channel 4’s Indie Growth Fund since 2019, includes ITV’s Professor T and Hotel Portofino, Channel 4’s Before We Die and Suspect, as well as The Couple Next Door, which was Channel 4’s biggest ever scripted streaming launch.

As part of the deal, ITV Studios has also acquired a majority stake in the Belgium-based production services company Happy Duck, led by producer and director Dries Vos (Professor T, The Couple Next Door), which services Eagle Eye’s global slate.

Professor T, starring Ben Miller and adapted from the Belgian series of the same name, has sold into over 120 territories worldwide, with Hotel Portofino airing in over 70 territories across five continents.

Forthcoming series include PBS’ Patience, starring Laura Fraser (Breaking Bad) and Ella Maisy Purvis (Malpractice) and Bookish, created by and starring Mark Gatiss for UKTV’s Alibi, while the company has multiple projects in development. International distribution of new Eagle Eye series will be handled by ITV Studios.

The announcement follows on from ITV Studios’ recent acquisition of leading drama producer Hartswood Films. Recent years have also seen Nicola Shindler’s Quay Street Productions, Happy Prince, led by Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Ben Stephenson’s Poison Pen Studios and premium natural history and factual entertainment prodco Plimsoll Productions also join ITV Studios.

Julian Bellamy, Managing Director of ITV Studios, said: “Since launching Eagle Eye just five years ago, Walter, Jo and Jason have built a really impressive scripted business. Disruptive, innovative and international, Eagle Eye has carved out a real point of difference in the market. I’m delighted to welcome them to ITV Studios.”