DLT Entertainment has bought Juniper Productions, the indie producer run by BBC Chairman Samir Shah.
Financial terms of the deal weren’t announced, but London-based DLT said the acquisition marked “a significant expansion of its portfolio in the factual programming space.” Juniper will continue to operate from offices in London.
Juniper (aka Juniper TV) is behind shows such as Politics London and Politics South East for the BBC and The Political Slot for Channel 4, all of which have been commissions taking them into 2025.
DLT said that, “in a time when politics has taken centre-stage for UK audiences, particularly following the recent election, these programs have become essential viewing for those seeking to understand the complexities of local and regional governance.
Shah has owned Juniper since 1998, when he acquired it from Michael Wills, who left the TV business to become an MP. Upon being appointed BBC Chairman to replace Richard Sharp, Shah was forced to step down from Juniper, with the FT reporting in February he was seeking a buyer or looking at winding up the business.
DLT, meanwhile, was launched back in 1963 and has headquarters in London and New York. It owns stakes in various creative businesses and owns London’s Shaftesbury Theatre, and has in recent years invested in the likes of talent houses Gag Reflex and The Soho Agency, comedian Mark Watson’s Impatient Productions and voiceover firm Bedford Square Voices.
“We are thrilled to welcome Juniper Productions into the DLT Entertainment family,” said Donald Taffner Jr., President of DLT Entertainment. “Samir has built an exceptional company with a remarkable reputation for delivering high-quality content. We have a wonderful benchmark in which to build on this legacy and continue producing outstanding programming that reflects the strengths and values of both DLT and Juniper. We look forward to continuing production of Politics London and Politics South East next year with the same production team making for a seamless transition.”
Shah and Belkis Bheghani, Juniper company director, said Taffner Jr. had “a terrific vision for the future of Juniper and that they were “sure Juniper will thrive and prosper under his guidance.”
“DLT’s commitment to Juniper’s core values of impartiality, creativity and accountability was important to us and we have no doubt that Juniper will continue to deliver journalism of the highest order,” the added in a statement.
Jerry Thomas, Series Editor for Politics London, added: “The acquisition by DLT Entertainment opens up new opportunities for us to expand our reach and enhance the quality of our programming. We are eager to work alongside DLT to continue delivering top-tier political coverage to our audiences.”
