Gravity Media completes Chief Entertainment acquisition
Details
Joseph O'Halloran
| 02 September 2019

In a move that the parties say will create premier provider of live and fast turnaround programming with studios and post-production facilities in Australia, live broadcast facilities and production services provider Gravity Media has concluded the acquisition of Sydney-based Chief Entertainment.

Boasting around 50 staff, Chief provides its services to TV networks, sporting federations, entertainment franchises, agencies and commercial brands and produces short and long-form programmes for both live and post-produced, as well as branded content and commercials. Gravity currently operates in Australia under the Gearhouse Broadcast, HyperActive Broadcast and Input Media brands and the acquisition is intended to complement its existing Input Media production centres in the UK as well as its Melbourne production and Sydney post-production facilities.

The transaction completed on 30 August 2019 and Chief Entertainment will now continue to operate under its existing name and branding until it is fully integrated with Gravity Media’s Australia operations. Chief Entertainment CEO Hamish Cameron has now stepped down from his role but will continue to work with Gravity Media as it integrates Chief’s operations with those of its existing Australian businesses. COO Scott Kinlyside, who has been with Chief Entertainment for the past 15 years, and his team, will continue to manage and grow the business as it is integrated into Gravity Media’s operations within Australia and globally.

Under its new ownership, Chief Entertainment will continue to provide Telstra Corporation with high quality production services for its enterprise division, digital sports rights and media services.

The new deal is the fifth acquisition that Gravity Media has made since securing substantial investment from TowerBrook Capital Partners in September 2016 and in 2017 it took over leading sports production company Input Media. In March 2018 it bought Genesis Broadcast Services and immediately rebranded it as Gearhouse Broadcast Germany to serve the production markets of Northern Europe. In July 2018 it acquired Proshow Broadcast, a leading supplier of mobile production solutions which has since been integrated into Gravity Media’s Gearhouse Broadcast USA operations.

“We are delighted to welcome Chief Entertainment to the Gravity Media family,” commented John Newton, founder and CEO of Gravity Media. “Our Gearhouse Broadcast and Input Media businesses have worked with Chief Entertainment for many years and we see it as a natural fit with our existing businesses in Australia. Chief Entertainment’s strengths include strong relationships with major Australian national sporting bodies, music and entertainment industries, as well as the creation of multi-platform entertainment and corporate television programmes involving some of Australia’s premier talent.”