Dutch unscripted channels operator and content producer Insight TV has launched World Storytelling Media Group (WSMG) to consolidate the company after its recent acquisition of Off the Fence (OTF)’s distribution assets.
Insight TV and OTF will now sit under the new WSMG banner, unifying the commercial teams into a single unit. The new company will make its debut at Mipcom next month as Insight TV celebrates its 10-year anniversary.
The merged catalogue will provide an expanded offering of factual entertainment content, adding automotive, food and lifestyle content to OTF’s curated factual catalogue.
Insight TV will focus on growing its portfolio of pay TV and B2C FAST channels – currently with seven channel brands across several global feeds – with all IP and rights investments now centralised within OTF. The company said this will ensure “the entire WSMG ecosystem benefits from a unified pipeline of people, content and commercial opportunities.”
The move will see key executives from Insight TV join the OTF sales team. Sam Thomson is senior VP of content sales for North America and global networks; Joanna Rowley is director of content sales for APAC, UK and Ireland; and Inês Isidro is sales executive looking after Benelux, Brazil and Portugal.
Under the lead of Loren Baxter, OTF’s acquisitions team will now take on responsibility for acquisitions on behalf of the channels as well as from producers. She will collaborate closely with Sarah Reed, Insight TV’s director of programming and scheduling, and Lisette Schlippe, global VP of fast and content, to source unscripted programming for Insight TV’s channels, while simultaneously expanding the OTF distribution catalogue.
Insight TV’s CEO Viktoriia Tkachenko said: “The launch of WSMG heralds a new era to better facilitate the discovery of high-quality IP for partners and audiences at this moment of seismic change in our industry. Through Insight’s existing channels, OTF’s expansive global client and partner network and a soon-to-be-revealed social and digital strategy, WSMG will be the home for future-proofing our business.
“With a sharp focus on returning series and long running IP that can work on traditional linear channels, FAST, YouTube and indeed whatever comes next, we know producers simply want to reach as many eyeballs as possible. WSMG will help them achieve that by offering an entire portfolio: access to all major content buyers, global channels and social, all streamlined under one roof.”
Bo Stehmeier, CEO of OTF, added: “With now arguably the most experienced and largest factual commercial team under one roof, we’re eager to build strategic alliances with direct-to-consumer platforms, production companies, IP holders and their investors worldwide. Our ambition under WSMG is to offer a true one-stop-shop for the global non-scripted storytelling community.”