By Michael Calia
Warner Bros. Television Group on Tuesday said it agreed to buy
all of Eyeworks Group's businesses outside the U.S. in a bid to
expand its global footprint.
Eyeworks, a Dutch independent television production and
distribution company founded in 2001, produces content that airs in
more than 150 countries, according to Warner Bros. Its programming
includes such titles as "Who Wants to Marry My Son?" and "Reality
Queens of the Jungle."
The move--which covers businesses in 15 countries across Europe,
South America, Australia and New Zealand--adds 13 new territories
to Warner Bros.' network of production companies.
Warner Bros. said it would use the deal to establish local
production companies worldwide, "each with a mandate to develop
original local programming and adapt the output from the
studio."
The Eyeworks deal marks continued expansion for the Warner Bros.
television operation. Previously, it had acquired the U.K.'s Shed
Media in 2010 and the Dutch and Belgian operations of BlazHoffski
in 2011.
Eyeworks Group founder and Chief Executive Reinout Oerlemans
will resign as CEO once the deal is finished, and will move to Los
Angeles to serve as chairman of Eyeworks USA. Eyeworks USA will
remain independent, according to the companies.
Write to Michael Calia at michael.calia@wsj.com
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