A Newry TV production company is set to create nine new jobs as it goes after new export markets. Big Mountain Productions plans to develop new TV formats – which it will retain the rights to – in a bid to grow over £2m in export sales. The company is aiming to expand its businesses into Great Britain, the US and Canada, investing a total of £481,000 with £88,600 of support from Invest NI. Big Mountain makes programmes and sells original programme formats to major broadcasters across Ireland. Run by Philip McGovern and Jane Kelly, the company has made shows for Irish television, including acclaimed history series The Tenements and RTE panel show Who knows Ireland best? A part of its investment Big Mountain Productions will develop a series of new television programme formats, retaining the rights to these to safeguard future business opportunities. A marketing campaign will also be rolled out to increase the company’s profile and promote its new formats in target markets. Nine new members of staff will be recruited over the next three years in research, media and production management roles to help facilitate these plans. Company director Philip McGovern said the investment will help Big Mountain to grow into a major brand for proper factual and factual/ entertainment formats. “Protecting the intellectual property rights to our products will be a key factor to our future success and growth in key markets,” he said. “Support from Invest NI will enable us to progress our expansion plans and help us to secure £2.4M worth of new export business over the next three years.” Invest NI’s Director of Regional Economic Development Bill Scott said the creative industries sector is key to economic growth in Northern Ireland. “This investment will enable Big Mountain Productions to take advantage of emerging opportunities in international markets and to exploit its ideas across a range of media platforms,” he said. By strengthening its management and production development team, the company can boost its competitiveness and work towards gaining its share of sales in lucrative new markets.”
Newry Democrat
31st January 2012
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