North One sells Australian prodco

All3Media-owned North One Television has offloaded its Australian production subsidiary in a management buy-out.

North One Australia’s head of programming Adam Kay has acquired the business for an undisclosed amount and plans to rename it Mint Pictures. It will continue to create content for the Australian market and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region.

The Sydney-based prodco is best known for ABC3 kids’ series Bushwacked!, which is currently in development on a second season, plus Foxtel sport-themed series Football Superstar and Cricket Superstar.

“I’m very excited about the future and my partnership with long standing colleague [North One Australia’s development producer] Dan Goldberg – our philosophy of producing innovative content in a creative style will remain the blueprint of the new media company,” said Kay, who has become Mint’s MD.

North One Television’s COO Neil Bailey said: “We would like to thank Adam and his team for all of their hard work over the last five-and-a-half years. We wish him the very best of luck and continued success for the future.

“We think Adam and his team are ideally placed to take advantage of their strong relationships and reputation in the local market and North One Television will continue to focus on the UK broadcast market and other international opportunities particularly in the US.”

North One was formed in 2003, when a group of former ITV executives lead by ex-Granada chief Steve Morrison acquired Chrysalis Group’s TV arm and rebranded it, creating the wider All3Media group in the process.