Programming distribution company DRG has taken an equity stake in Double Yellow Television, a TV production business with some of the UK’s highest rated shows within its portfolio including Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, The Royal Variety Performance, Parkinson and The BAFTA Awards. They also executive produced NBC’s number one series in the US, Hit Me Baby One More Time.

DRG is owned by the ‘nice’ entertainment group and backed by Modern Times Group.

Terms were not revealed.

Double Yellow has a varied slate of projects already in development: the business is continuing to use Mark Wells and Glen Middleham’s expertise for creating big, ambitious entertainment shows but it is also drawing on their recent experience to pursue a clear factual focus, producing formatted factual and documentary programming. The company has just delivered its first commission, a soon to be announced two-hour documentary for ITV.

While DRG has acquired a financial stake in Double Yellow, the company has also negotiated a first look deal for its projects in development and is committed to providing a hands-on incubation role, delivering financial and business support as well as its extensive expertise of the international market.

Richard Halliwell, CEO of DRG comments: “Mark and Glen are an incredibly talented duo and in Double Yellow they have created just the sort of content business that DRG believes in and is keen to support with investment: small, nimble, well-connected, very creative and with an inherent feel for what works and what doesn’t across a range of genres. The fact that we can grow our relationship in a new creative space is also very exciting; being able to talk face-to-face on a daily basis will be a huge advantage in getting the best shows commissioned and financed, as well as placed with the right broadcasters and platforms internationally. As we evolve into a more rounded content business we are keen to invest in more producers like Double Yellow Television and are now actively looking for new partners.”

DRG also announces that it is opening up new office space to other producers, offering a central London ‘drop-in’ location for creatives – with no strings attached.

DRG is one of the world’s leading independent distributors of content, with an impressive catalogue of more than 12,000 hours across 12 key genres: Formats, Drama, Crime, History, Arts, Comedy, Entertainment, Factual, Factual Entertainment, Lifestyle, Nature & Wildlife and Travel.

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