Asacha Media Group is a European production group based in Paris that owns majority stakes in eight production companies in France, Italy and the UK focusing on scripted and unscripted content. Under the agreement, Fremantle has the option to acquire the outstanding shareholdings in the eight production companies over the next years. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and expected to close in the second quarter of 2024.

The acquisition of Asacha Media Group follows Fremantle’s recent acquisition of an 80 per cent majority stake in the production company Beach House Pictures, focusing on scripted, non-scripted and brand-funded programming in Asia. The transaction closed on 8 February 2024. Under the agreement, Fremantle has the option to fully acquire Beach House after 2027.

For both acquisitions combined, RTL Group will invest over €200 million.

The acquisitions of Asacha Media Group and Beach House Pictures are part of Fremantle’s boost plan to reach €3 billion in full-year revenue by 2025. RTL Group is investing in Fremantle across all three content pillars: entertainment, drama and film, and documentaries. In total, Fremantle acquired 13 companies in the past three years, including Lux Vide, This is Nice Group, Eureka, Element Pictures, Wildstar Films and 72 Films.

Thomas Rabe, Chief Executive Officer of RTL Group, says: ”The acquisitions of Asacha Media Group and Beach House Pictures are part of Fremantle’s boost plan: to invest in and grow premium production companies around the world and to work with world-class talent. With the acquisitions, Fremantle is well on track to reach its €3 billion revenue target, effectively doubling the global video production business within five years.

Over the past years, Fremantle has significantly grown its portfolio across all genres, with acquisitions in the Nordics, the UK, Italy, the US and Australia. Asacha Media Group complements Fremantle’s European footprint with eight distinctive labels, while Beach House Pictures strengthens Fremantle’s position in Asia – a growth region within its strategic boost plan.“

Asacha Media Group is a European production group based in Paris that owns stakes in eight production companies in France, Italy and the UK. The labels Kabo, Mintee, Picomedia and Red Planet are focused on scripted series, while Stand by Me, Arrow and WAG are focused on unscripted series, and Srab is focused on films. Successful formats from this portfolio include Death in Paradise (Red Planet Pictures) for BBC One, Mare Fuori (Picomedia) for Netflix and Scènes de Ménages (Kabo Family) for M6. Asacha Media Group is well diversified in terms of geography, genre and its customer base, complementing Fremantle’s footprint in Europe and strengthening Fremantle’s position as the home of leading and upcoming talent.

Beach House Pictures is an Asian production company based in Singapore producing formats across diverse genres and languages throughout Asia. It operates in Japan, Korea and China as well as the US, UK and Europe, and is focused on non-scripted entertainment such as Mind Your Manners for Netflix, documentary series such as Evolve for Amazon Prime and Curiosity Stream, franchises such as MasterChef Singapore, and Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso, the number-one documentary for Netflix Indonesia. The acquisition strengthens Fremantle’s footprint in Asia.