Deal creates premier provider of live and fast-turnaround programming with studios and post-production facilities Gravity Media, the leading global provider of complex live broadcast facilities and production services, has completed the acquisition of Chief Entertainment Pty Limited, a leading Sydney, Australia-based provider of live studio and production services, from Telstra Corporation Limited, Australia’s leading telecommunications and technology company. Gravity Media already operates in Australia under the Gearhouse Broadcast, HyperActive Broadcast and Input Media brands and this acquisition will complement the existing Input Media production centres in the UK as well as its Melbourne production and Sydney post-production facilities. The transaction completed on Friday 30th August 2019. Chief Entertainment is an innovative television and digital production company based in Artarmon on Sydney’s north shore. Chief’s 50 staff provide production services and digital media delivery services to leading TV networks, sporting federations, entertainment franchises, agencies and commercial brands. With Telstra fibre connectivity in and out of the building, Chief Entertainment can send and receive content anywhere around the world at a moment’s notice. Chief produces short and long-form programmes for both live and post-produced, as well as branded content and commercials. Chief Entertainment will continue to operate under its existing name and branding until it is fully integrated with Gravity Media’s Australia operations. Under its new ownership, Chief Entertainment will continue to provide Telstra Corporation Limited with high quality production services for its enterprise division, digital sports rights and media services. Chief Entertainment’s services include:
  • Live studio based short-form and long-form program productions
  • 24/7 broadcast TV channel play-out and management (FTA, Pay, IPTV)
  • High quality video production services, post-production and motion graphics for branded content and television commercials
  • Live Outside Broadcast (OB) television production management services.
  • Live event streaming and distribution management services.
  • Catch-up TV encoding and publishing services
  • High quality live streaming and Video on Demand encoding for online, IPTV, and apps
  • Secure video encoding and digital media content management services.
This is the fifth acquisition that Gravity Media has made since securing substantial investment from TowerBrook Capital Partners in September 2016. In 2017 it took over leading sports production company Input Media, to enable the business to offer end-to-end solutions including high-end production and technical facilities, and Australian communications solutions company Stranger Designs to expand its event communications offering. In March 2018 it bought Genesis Broadcast Services and immediately rebranded it as Gearhouse Broadcast Germany to serve the production markets of Northern Europe. In July 2018 it acquired Proshow Broadcast, a leading supplier of mobile production solutions to broadcasters, producers and rights holders throughout the USA and Canada, which has since been successfully integrated into Gravity Media’s Gearhouse Broadcast USA operations. Chief Entertainment’s key facilities at its Artarmon base include:
  • Two 100m2 HD studios and control rooms
  • A live event master control and presentation suite
  • Live broadcast and data fibre connectivity
  • Eleven HD/4K edit and design suites
  • An Avid Protools 5.1 audio post production suite
  • Make-up and green room facilities
  • Production office space
John Newton, Founder & CEO, Gravity Media, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Chief Entertainment to the Gravity Media family. Our Gearhouse Broadcast and Input Media businesses have worked with Chief Entertainment for many years and we see it as a natural fit with our existing businesses in Australia. Chief Entertainment’s strengths include strong relationships with major Australian national sporting bodies, music and entertainment industries, as well as the creation of multi-platform entertainment and corporate television programmes involving some of Australia’s premier talent. “Chief Entertainment has achieved significant external revenue growth over the past three years, has an impressive customer base and is respected for the quality of the work it delivers. We look forward to working with our new colleagues at Chief Entertainment to continue to grow our content production capabilities and deliver enhanced services to our clients.” Hamish Cameron, CEO of Chief Entertainment, has stepped down as CEO but will continue to work with Gravity Media as it integrates Chief’s operations with those of its existing Australian businesses. COO, Scott Kinlyside, who has been with Chief Entertainment for the past 15 years, and his team, will continue to manage and grow the business as it is integrated into Gravity Media’s operations within Australia and globally.   About Gravity Media Group Gravity Media Group is a leading global provider of complex live broadcast facilities and production services to content owners, creators and distributors. It operates across three core brands - Gearhouse Broadcast, HyperActive Broadcast and Input Media – and has offices in the UK, France, Australia, USA, Germany and Qatar. Gearhouse Broadcast is a market leader in broadcast services and specialises in broadcast equipment rental, project solutions and systems integration. It offers huge experience and a proven track record in delivering major sporting and entertainment events. See www.gearhousebroadcast.com HyperActive Broadcast is a leading provider of dry hire cutting rooms, visual effects tools and production space for feature films and TV dramas. With a background in integrated Avid and EVS workflows, its engineers are trusted by the best names in the industry. See www.hyperactivebroadcast.com Input Media is a premier sports production company, with blue-chip clients around the world. It employs a talented team of producers, directors and editors dedicated to producing creative and engaging programming and digital content for a wide variety of clients. See www.inputmedia.tv Chief Entertainment is an innovative television and digital production company based in Artarmon on Sydney’s north shore. Chief produces short and long-form programmes for both live and post-produced as well as branded content and commercials. See www.chiefentertainment.com.au Find out more at www.gravitymedia.com