Industry

WTFN Group is bringing its Radar digital business and television distributor Fred Media together under a new company, Radar Studios, which will make its official debut at MIPCOM next month. The Melbourne-based media group says the new business is designed to respond to changes in the content market while placing a stronger focus on developing and creating original content alongside its existing intellectual property and third-party acquisitions.

Radar Studios will operate across three divisions: Network, Distribution and Content. The Network division will manage WTFN's owned and operated FAST and digital channels across major platforms, including Bondi Vet, Real Emergency and Untamed. Distribution will represent both WTFN-owned and third-party content internationally, while the Content division will acquire third-party titles and fund, develop and create new Originals for the company's channels and distribution business.

Derek Dyson has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer of Radar Studios. As part of the restructuring, Jamie I, who joined Fred Media earlier this year as APAC Sales Manager, will become APAC Sales & Acquisitions Lead. Longtime consultant Kate Llewellyn-Jones will also continue working across the business, focusing on identifying, developing and funding new content and partnerships.

Dyson said: “Content supply is one of the major challenges in our business today, so we’ve developed Radar Studios to reduce potential risk and help provide a pipeline for a more sustainable model. We will continue to maximise the enviable legacy IP that we have in the business – most fully-owned by WTFN - and have also recently established a new fund to invest in and acquire high-quality third-party content. But I am most excited about our new Originals strategy and the chance to work closely with WTFN’s recently appointed Head of Development, Michael McDermott, and highly respected Chief Creative Officer, Steve Oemcke. Together, we will use data, trends and market intel that we gather to create new content for a range of global channels and platforms. And we’re thrilled that we already have some game-changing concepts in development.”

The launch brings together two businesses that have already been operating under WTFN's broader Total Distribution strategy. According to Dyson, the new structure is intended to create a single entry point for partners and simplify the company's offering. “For a while, we have successfully operated with a Total Distribution strategy, aligning the Radar and Fred Media teams to ensure no rights were left on the shelf. However, creating Radar Studios brings full integration and simplifies that message to the market, removing any ambiguity over entry points to our business. We cannot wait to introduce Radar Studios to our existing and potential new partners in Cannes next month and are excited that this re-brand and re-structure puts the building blocks in place to help turbo-charge and support our ambitions for growth.”