Euro Media T l vision, SFP complete merger; create $400 million juggernaut

By Kevin Hilton

Euro Media T l vision, the parent company of SVG Technology Excellence Award co-winner SFP, has finalised its merger with UBF Media Group to create a massive pan-Europe organisation with outside broadcast vehicles, production facilities, studios and post-production houses in five countries. The new company will be known as Euro Media Group and has an estimated turnover of €300 million.

This merger continues a trend for big facilities groups to either combine formerly or enter into joint venture in order to offer their services in a greater number of countries. Both Euro Media T l vision of France and the Dutch UBF are certain that by combing their experience, expertise, staff and facilities they will be able to offer higher degrees of services to clients.

The deal creates a company with nine companies in five countries. These include Cinevideogroup and United Broadcast Facilities in the Netherlands, CTV Outside Broadcasts in the UK, Videohouse in Belgium, Germany’s NOB Studios and French companies Euro Media, SFP, a specialist in OBs and RF known for its work on the Tour de France, rental company Tatou and VCF, which specialises in sports production. Also part of the group is Livetools Technology, a Swiss developer of long distance transmission systems that was acquired by Euro Media T l vision in 2005.

Jean-Pierre Barry, founder of Euro Media T l vision, will head up Euro Media Group as chief executive and sit on a board with Barry Johnstone, founder of CTV OBs, Euro Media T l vision co-founder Luc Geoffroy and Gaston van de Poel, chief financial officer of UBF. The merged group’s resources are impressive, with 16 HD/SD OB trucks, 29 SD vehicles, 78 studios, 93 post-production facilities 114 ENG units and a staff of over 1,300.

The directors of Euro Media T l vision and UBF feel the merger allows those resources and the accompanying expertise to be shared across the group, with the added financial stability to increase investment to create a solid platform for international expansion.

“All the components are in place to create a formidable facilities group that will be able to take on the biggest productions in Europe and beyond,” commented Johnstone.

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