Tinopolis acquires independent production company Firecracker
Independent TV production and distribution company Tinopolis has announced the acquisition of Firecracker Films Limited (Firecracker).
The takeover of the factual and factual entertainment programme production company underpins Tinopolis’ strategy of widening its creative and geographical reach. Founded in 2002 by Mark Soldinger, Firecracker is now one of the fastest growing factual and factual entertainment producers in both the UK and the US and is behind one of Channel 4’s biggest rating hits of the last decade, Big Fat Gypsy Weddings and in the US, Big Fat American Gypsy Weddings (TLC).
Firecracker’s successful expansion into the US means the company now generates as much turnover from the US as it does the UK. Firecracker also has a valuable branded content division that produces audio visual content for the likes of Nissan, Heineken, Diageo, GSK and Motorola.
There will be no changes made to Firecracker’s management and creative team with CEO Mark Soldinger, managing director Sue Oriel, head of programmes Jes Wilkings, and creative director Jeremy Groman all becoming shareholders in the Tinopolis Group.
Speaking of the acquisition, Ron Jones, executive chairman of Tinopolis, said: “In Firecracker we have acquired a company that is operating at the cutting edge of television on both sides of the Atlantic.
Firecracker is an ideal partner for us. Its programmes are already sold in over 100 territories around the world and our distribution platform will help to support its continuing development.”
Mark Soldinger added: “We have been conscious for some time of the requirement for a financial and operational partner that will allow us to sustain Firecracker’s rapid growth over the long term.
“Tinopolis’s existing capabilities and its forward strategy immediately marked it out as our partner of choice and we look forward to working with Ron Jones, Arwel Rees and other senior executives from the wider Group on developing the opportunities ahead.”