RedBird IMI, a three way partnership funding agency led by Jeff Zucker, has taken a stake in The Morning Present manufacturing entity Media Res.
Based by CEO Michael Ellenberg, a former HBO exec, Media Res additionally produces one other notable Apple TV+ title, Pachinko.
An announcement in regards to the funding stated it should “gasoline Media Res’ progress as a number one impartial studio,” serving to it develop in scripted sequence and in addition scale its exercise in movie and non-fiction.
The funding is RedBird IMI’s first in a scripted manufacturing outfit. Zucker, who wound down a prolonged run at CNN in 2023, later that 12 months got here aboard RedBird IMI, which is owned by non-public fairness agency RedBird Capital and Abu Dhabi-based Worldwide Media Investments.
Different investments in the course of the firm’s first 12 months embody EverWonder Studios, Hidden Pigeon Firm and Entrance Workplace Sports activities.
The Morning Present, which launched together with Apple TV+ in 2019, had its third season turn out to be the streaming service’s most watched drama. Ellenberg was beforehand head of drama for HBO, overseeing reveals like Massive Little Lies, True Detective, The Leftovers and Westworld.
“It’s been thrilling to observe Michael’s skill to deliver collectively essentially the most inventive minds within the enterprise and develop revolutionary, commercially profitable sequence for the brand new viewing panorama,” Zucker stated. “Media Res was a pure partnership for us as we proceed to develop our presence throughout all types of scripted, unscripted and youngsters’s leisure in addition to information and data.”
Ellenberg stated Media Res was launched “within the perception that an impartial studio mannequin might thrive in immediately’s consolidated market — creating a house for groundbreaking artists and materials with the purpose of delighting, inspiring and enthralling audiences worldwide.” RedBird’s buy-in, he continued, “will permit us to construct on what we began, fueling Media Res’ progress as a marquee provider of premium storytelling.”
