RBNL forays into TV production in the US; acquires 81% of Georgeville Television

MUMBAI: Anil Ambani promoted Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd (RBNL) has forayed into television series production in the US with the acquisition of Georgeville Television, a television studio set up by 36-year-old renowned film and television producer Marc Rosen.

RBNL has acquired 81 per cent of Georgeville Television via a step-down subsidiary in the US called Reliance TV US LLC. The price at which Reliance TV US acquired the stake in Georgeville is not disclosed.

Reliance TV US LLC and its holding company RBN US LLC, wholly-owned by RBNL, were both incorporated on 18 June. RBN US LLC owns 65 per cent of Reliance TV US but the owner of the remaining 35 per cent stake could not be ascertained.

Reliance TV US acquired the stake in Georgeville on 24 August 2012.

Georgeville Television was launched in March 2012 by Rosen, best known for working on the Harry Potter film franchise, The Dark Knight and popular TV show Threshold, and Leon Clarance, CEO of Motion Picture Capital, a London-based company backed by RBNL.

Reliance ADAG had earlier entered Hollywood funding Steven Spielberg?s DreamWorks Studios and the joint venture started producing a slate of films.

Based in Hollywood, Georgeville TV aims to produce high-quality drama and comedy television programming for the US and international markets.

According to Motion Picture Capital website, Georgeville TV already has a slate of shows in various stages of development and production including Crossbones, a 10-episode primetime scripted show ordered straight-to-series by NBC for the 2012-13 season.

The other show is BLAKE?S 7, the British cult adventure classic being remade by Syfy; and Epidemic, produced by James Lassiter and Will Smith.