Germany’s Palatin invests in Frank’s Rocket Rights & Benmore’s Rights Booster

David Frank

German firm Palatin Media has invested in David and Matthew Frank’s recently launched TV distribution firm Rocket Rights and its VOD-focused sister company Rights Booster.

Palatin, which was founded by Bernd Schlötterer in 2011, has made an undisclosed equity investment in both Rocket Rights and Rights Booster.

The latter was founded by former Kew Media Distribution exec Mark Benmore last year, securing initial investment from the Frank brothers in September.

The agreement will see Palatin distribute its catalogue worldwide outside of German-speaking Europe through Rocket, with Benmore’s Booster managing the German firm’s VOD rights across “major platforms”.

Palatin, which worked with Canuck firm Content Media before it became part of the new defunct Kew Media, will represent the Rocket catalogue in German-speaking territories.

TRX founders David and Matthew Frank launched London-based distribution firm Rocket Rights last month, describing the company as a “next generation, multi-genre distributor” that will work with producers to take content worldwide. It offers TV distribution at 19% commission and 80/20 revenue share on VOD publishing.

Former Zodiak Media CEO David Frank is chairman, while former Zodiak Rights chief Matthew Frank is CEO. Its slate includes factual series such as Maximus Films’ Mega Manufacturing and Dreamcars – Inside the Factory from Germany’s WeltN24, as well as Viaplay drama Orca and Novel Entertainment’s classic kids show Fimbles.

Rocket Rights’ staff includes Beyond Media’s former SVP of sales for German-speaking Europe, Scandinavia & Iberia Anne-Marie Pardoe, who left the Australian company last year, and ex-Endemol Shine International sales exec Katie Stephenson.

The company is the first venture for the Frank brothers since they stepped back from online distributor TRX in late 2019.

David Frank previously launched RDF Media in 1993, which his brother Matthew joined a year later. The company was subsequently sold to De Agostini and became part of Zodiak Media.

David Frank said: “Matthew and I have known and liked Bernd for many years and have always admired his entrepreneurial success. He brings deep experience of the markets and a wide range of new contacts. The addition of the Palatin catalogue to our global sales effort is also a major coup for both Rocket and Booster.”

Benmore added: I was working with Bernd even before setting up Booster and he’s encouraged me at every turn – so it’s great that we’re now formally in business together and collaborating on such a fundamental level. We are building great momentum at Booster and this will only help.”

Schloetterer said: “I am delighted to complete this crucial strategic investment. Together we all have the same vision of the market and the way it is evolving. This deal delivers greater distribution fire-power to Palatin and opens up untapped markets. Moreover there are great synergies between Booster and the existing AVoD and SVoD channels and platforms of our group. I really believe in what the Franks and Mark are doing and am excited by the potential.”