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LONDON – Former BBC entertainment commissioner Karl Warner and Sony Pictures Television (SPT) are teaming to launch a U.K. production banner named Electric Ray.
Warner will head up the new venture as managing director. From its London base, the new Electric Ray will produce TV content for British broadcasters and international export and develop original shows in the factual entertainment and entertainment genres.
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As a member of SPT’s global production group, Electric Ray will also collaborate with SPT’s U.S. and international production companies on development, while its U.K. shows and formats will be sold by SPT’s distribution arm.
Warner said securing SPT’s backing means “we can be a proper company from day one, both in the U.K. and internationally, and it means we’ll be able to bring broadcasters quality ideas from the off.”
As the BBC’s youngest-ever commissioning editor, Warner greenlit and exec-produced a wide range of hit shows for BBC1 and BBC3, including Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, BBC1 gameshow Reflex, Junior Doctors, World’s Craziest Fools and The Undercover Princes.
Warner has recruited a development team to be headed up by Thomas O’Brien, whose resume boasts a part in bringing E4’s Party House and ITV2’s The Magaluf Weekender to the British small screen.
SPT’s U.K. production interests are Victory Television, Gogglebox Entertainment, Silver River Productions and Left Bank Pictures.
Current productions in the U.K. include Outlander, a drama based on Diana Gabaldon‘s best-selling books, starring Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe.
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