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News 2006


RDF Rights tops industry survey
14th September, 2006

RDF Rights (RDFR), part of the RDF Media Group, is delighted to announce its position in the distribution survey conducted by trade magazine Broadcast and published this week.

RDF Rights topped the Broadcast Distributors Survey Peer Poll for the first time – voted number one along side industry giant BBC Worldwide and ahead of Channel 4 International, Freemantle, Granada International and All3Media.

The survey also established that RDF Rights is now only marginally behind traditional indie distributor Channel 4 International as being the most used distributor by independent producers.

The same survey highlighted RDF Rights as one of the top five specialist distributors with an expertise in factual programming and highlighted top selling shows such as Wife Swap (Channel 4) and House of Tiny Tearaways (BBC) as international hits.

RDFR heads to international sales market MIPCOM next month with its largest catalogue yet – currently standing at over 3,500 hours and with programming from over fifty producers and several international broadcasters. In addition, this MIPCOM’s programming slate contains new genres for the distributor - drama, comedy and children’s - in-line with its parent companies acquisition strategy.

Enquiries  
Alice Robertson, Group Head of Marketing & Publicity 020 7013 4368
RDF Media Group  

www.rdfmedia.com

Notes to editors:

RDF Media Group plc

Since 1993, RDF has developed, produced and distributed a range of outstanding programming in entertainment, factual entertainment, features and drama. RDF has been one of the UK’s fastest growing companies appearing in The Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track top 100 in 2001, 2002, and 2003 and The Sunday Times PricewaterhouseCoopers Profit Track top 100 in 2005. The company was successfully listed at 144p on the London AIM market in May 2005.

Through its group members RDF Television, RDF Rights, RDF USA, IWC Media, Touchpaper Television, Presentable, Radar TV, The Foundation & The Comedy Unit the RDF Group makes television programmes for all the UK terrestrial broadcasters, a number of secondary UK channels as well as several US Network and cable broadcasters. It also sells programmes and formats to broadcasters worldwide and exploits secondary rights such as DVDs and merchandising through RDF Rights. Key shows include: Wife Swap - Channel Four/ ABC (US); Holiday Showdown - ITV1/ ABC (US); Location, Location, Location and Relocation, Relocation – Channel 4; The Basil Brush Show – CBBC; Rock School – Channel 4/VH1 (US); Ian Wright’s Unfit Kids - Channel 4/ABC (US); Ladette to Lady – ITV1; Scrapheap Challenge – Channel Four; A Harlot’s Progress – Channel 4; Shipwrecked: Battle of the Islands – Channel Four; Still Game – BBC Two; The Red Arrows – BBC One & The Queen’s Castle – BBC One.

RDF has won numerous awards for its programming including a number of BAFTAs, RTS awards, the Rose d’Or at Montreux and an International Emmy. In 2003, 2004 and 2005 RDF was voted the most respected and admired independent producer by its peers and won Broadcast’s Best Independent Production Company award in 2002, 2004 and 2006. RDF is the only indie to win this award more than once. IWC Media won the award in 2003

RDF Rights is the vehicle through which the group exploits the rights it creates in its programmes. RDF Rights also acts as agent on behalf of over 50 third party independent producers. Since the Communications Act 2003, independent producers in the UK have owned and controlled most of the secondary rights in their programmes made for terrestrial broadcasters.

RDF has offices in London, Glasgow, Bristol, Cardiff, Maidstone, New York and Los Angeles and the group employs about 600 people.

In the year to 31 January 2006, group sales were £59.5m and adjusted pre-tax profits were £5.4m.

Recent history:    
     
May 2005   RDF floats on AIM with a market capitalisation of £48m
     
August 2005   RDF acquires drama producer, Touchpaper Television
     
December 2005   RDF acquires Scotland’s largest independent producer, IWC Media
     
December 2005   RDF acquires control of specialist entertainment producer Radar TV
     
January 2006   RDF hires Nigel Pickard (former Director of Programmes ITV) as Director of Family Entertainment
     
February 2006   RDF hires Chris Coelen former head of Alternative TV at United Talent Agency, as CEO of Pangea Management Group and RDF’s US operations
     
April 2006   RDF acquires Welsh independent production company, Presentable
     
August 2006   RDF acquires specialist children’s producer, Foundation.
     
August 2006   RDF acquires top comedy producer The Comedy Unit



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