NBCU eyes acquisitions post UK launch

NBC Universal is eyeing the acquisition of independent production companies outside of the United States after setting up its own international production hub in London.

The division, which is headed up by Angela Bromstad, who was previously president of NBC Universal Television Studio in Los Angeles, is set to produce a combination of original shows for the UK and Europe and localised versions of hit US formats.

Bromstad told TBIvision.com: "We’re potentially looking at the acquisition of established [production] companies. We could target one big acquisition and be done with it."

The studio, which already produces local versions of Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in France and Russia respectively, has launched the division as both Twentieth Century Fox and Warner Bros. have exited the UK production industry.

Bromstad says that many terrestrial broadcasters are not interested in local versions of existing hits and want original concepts. "There are still opportunities for organic growth and we’re looking at local UK talent," she added.