NBC Universal has signed an agreement to acquire Carnival Film & Television, an independent production agency in Britain. The acquisition gives NBCU a base of operations for international expansion, part of the company’s long-range plan.
Carnival will be merged with a new NBC division dedicated to international TV production. “The mandate is to expand outside of the U.S.,” Angela Bromstad, the president of the division, told the "New York Times." She said the company was considering acquisitions and partnerships in India, Russia, France and Spain.
NBC Universal is increasingly looking overseas to develop TV and film concepts, produce programming, and license rights. The network declined to disclose the value of the deal, but British publications reported that it was paying the equivalent of $55 million for Carnival.
“International growth is one of our key strategic priorities, and that includes boosting our ability to create programming for specific local audiences around the world,” said Jeffrey Zucker, CEO of NBC Universal.
