DLT Entertainment has acquired Juniper Productions, the indie production company run by BBC Chairman Samir Shah.
Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced, but London-based DLT said the acquisition represents a “significant expansion of our portfolio in the fact programming space.” Juniper will continue to operate from its London offices.
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Juniper (also known as Juniper TV) produces shows such as Politics London and Politics South East for the BBC and The Political Slot for Channel 4, all commissioned programmes running until 2025.
DLT said: “At a time when politics has taken a central place in UK audiences’ minds, particularly following the recent election, these shows have become essential viewing for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of local and regional governance.”
Mr Shah has owned Juniper since 1998, when he bought it from Michael Willis, who left TV to become a member of Parliament. When he was appointed chairman of the BBC to replace Richard Sharpe, Mr Shah was forced to step down from Juniper and the Financial Times reported in February that he was looking for a buyer or considering liquidating the business.
DLT, on the other hand, was founded in 1963 and is headquartered in London and New York. The company holds stakes in a range of creative companies, owns London’s Shaftesbury Theatre, and has recently invested in talent agencies Gag Reflex, Soho Agency, comedian Mark Watson’s Impatient Productions, and voiceover agency Bedford Square Voice.
“We are thrilled to welcome Juniper Productions to the DLT Entertainment family,” said Donald Tufner Jr., president of DLT Entertainment. “Samir has built an outstanding company with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality content. We have a great benchmark to build on this tradition and continue to produce great programming that reflects the strengths and values of DLT and Juniper. We look forward to continuing to produce Politics London and Politics South East with the same production team next year, ensuring a smooth transition.”
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Shah and Juniper director Belkis Begani said Tufner Jr. “has a great vision for Juniper’s future and we are confident that Juniper will thrive and succeed under his leadership.”
“It is important to us that DLT is committed to Juniper’s core values of fairness, creativity and accountability, and we have no doubt that Juniper will continue to deliver the highest standards of journalism,” the statement added.
Jerry Thomas, series editor at Politics London, added: “The acquisition by DLT Entertainment brings new opportunities to expand our reach and enhance the quality of our programming. We look forward to working with DLT to continue bringing our audience top class political coverage.”
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