Endemol Takes Stake In Hammer Movie Maker; Second From Digital Fund
This story was written by Robert Andrews.
After buying a quarter of mobile and IPTV producer MoMedia during the summer, Endemol is following up by buying 40 percent of London-based multiplatform video maker Pure Grass Films - the second investment from its digital fund. Productions to date from the outfit founded by Ben and Tom Grass in 2005 may not be well-known, but the highest-profile was Beyond The Rave, a movie jointly commissioned by MySpace TV and Hammer Films for the video social net. It's the horror house's first flick in 25 years and viewers get "exclusive" episodes by friending the MySpace profile; it's released next month. Ben Grass had previously been Sony (NYSE: SNE) Pictures' London-based internet and mobile director; Tom made mobile games. The investment sees Endemol UK digital director Peter Cowley join the Pure Grass board.
Endemol is owned by a consortium consisting of Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, Mediaset Group and Cyrte Group.
By Robert Andrews