07/01/2004

NI TV production companies selected for US visit

Two Northern Irish independent production companies, Brian Waddell Productions Ltd (BWPL) and Extreme Production, have been selected to participate in an international market awareness trip to New York and Washington in February 2004.

Extreme Production’s latest network commission was ‘Britain’s Top Crime Families’, a series for five presented by undercover reporter Donal MacIntyre. The company are also filming a controversial documentary for Channel 4 about assisted suicide in the United States.

BWPL's recent productions include the travel-challenge series 'Chasing Time In...' for National Geographic Channel and ‘Life After Baywatch’ for five, distributed internationally by Freemantle.

The Northern Ireland Film & Television Commission are sponsoring the pilot initiative from PACT, Channel 4 and The Research Centre.

NIFTC Chief Executive Richard Williams said: “We are very excited to be sponsoring this initiative, which should act as a real catalyst in assisting the companies involved to access exciting international markets. The application process for Northern Ireland was highly competitive and we are delighted that two of the top Northern Irish independent production companies have been successful in securing a place on the trip.”

David Malone, Managing Director of Extreme Production, said: “The visit is a real opportunity to open doors into the American television market. Thanks to the involvement of the NIFTC and the Research Centre in Glasgow, we are going to meet the very top people at America’s major networks. It’s a chance to show what we can offer them and what they can offer us.”

(GB)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

01 November 2019
BBC Three Scheme Launches For NI Production Firms
BBC Three is inviting independent production companies based in Northern Ireland to submit format ideas as part of a youth content development scheme with the promise of a factual entertainment series for the channel.
10 February 2022
£1.6m Virtual Production Studio Unveiled At Ulster University
A new £1.6 million Virtual Production Studio has been launched at Ulster University by Economy Minister, Gordon Lyons. The state-of-the-art facility is supported by more than £536,000 of funding through the Department for the Economy and will provide teaching of screen industry skills for students at the university.
03 September 2013
60 Jobs Cut At Co Down Food Firm
60 jobs are to be lost at a County Down food supplier. Crossgar Foodservice has said it is consolidating aspects of its business with that of its parent, Pallas Foods. The firm will now trade as Crossgar Pallas.
25 November 2009
£1.25m Meat Plant Extension
A Ballymena-based beef and lamb company is to invest over £1.25m in new production facilities. Doherty & Gray said its plans to increase production would create up to ten new jobs.
02 April 2009
NI 'Reeling' As Bombardier Cuts 1,000 Jobs
Jobs at the Belfast factories of plane-maker Bombardier may be at risk. The company has announced today that it is cutting aircraft production rates and reducing manpower throughout all its sites, and a statement from the east Belfast facility notes, "we regret to confirm that 310 Bombardier employee jobs are at risk in Northern Ireland".