Euro Media Group acquires Telegenic in move to expand global presence

UK-based OB firm added to roster that includes CTV, Videohouse and United

Euro Media Group (EMG) has bought Telegenic, the UK-based OB facilities company. The acquisition is part of EMG’s strategy to grow its business in the UK and Europe, as well as to expand its range of production capacities and services thus enabling the Group to better cover major global live events. 

Based in Buckinghamshire, Telegenic operates a fleet of 15 OB and production trucks and employs around 100 people across production, admin and management. It recently opened offices in the USA and currently provides services to Sky Sports and the PGA Tour, among others.

Following the acquisition, EMG will rely on the experience and expertise of the current Telegenic management team to continue developing the business with the support of the Group. Financial details were not disclosed.

“We are excited to welcome Telegenic and its very talented and respected team into the Euro Media Group,” said Patrick van den Berg, co-chief executive of EMG.

“This acquisition fully fits within our international growth strategy, and particularly our ambition to consolidate our position in markets with strong potential.”

Founded in 1981, Telegenic is synonymous with significant technology milestones and is renowned for its talented and motivated team.

“This acquisition fully fits within our international growth strategy, and particularly our ambition to consolidate our position in markets with strong potential.”

Peter Bates, Telegenic managing director, and Terry James, Telegenic’s operations director, see the deal as an “exciting opportunity that will unlock the potential to explore emerging technologies as the industry transitions to new ways of working.”

It will also allow Telegenic to operate alongside companies that share their passion, values and ambition, the duo said.

Van den Berg believes that the acquisition showcases EMG’s ability to attract successful companies into the Group as it looks to grow its business.

“Our aim is to continue expanding in Europe and beyond through both autonomous growth and acquisitions while Telegenic’s US activity will allow EMG to further extend its international presence,” he said.

EMG provides broadcasting and audio-visual services within the European market. With its HQ in France, it owns a raft of OB and other broadcast services companies around the continent including CTV, Aerial Camera Systems and Broadcast RF in the UK, Holland’s United and Belgium’s Videohouse.

A good fit

François-Xavier Quenin, strategy and development director at EMG, told SVG Europe that Telegenic was a good fit for the group because of the quality of the company.

“It has a very good reputation,” he said.

“In the market, clients like this company – it’s people, assets and the service it provides. We also have a very common vision of business and culture, especially around the proximity to clients. It’s very important to have a close relationship with clients and not just push solutions. Our vision is to be close to clients, working locally with them, listening to what they need and building long term relationships.”

Quenin confirmed that Telegenic will remain a stand-alone business within EMG following the acquisition and will not be merged into its fellow UK-based OB firm CTV.

He explained: “We will keep the brand as it is and the company will continue to operate on an autonomous basis. It will not merge with CTV; it will be part of EMG, but we will look for synergies.”

“At the end of the day, what we are looking to achieve is to offer a better service to our clients. Different customers prefer CTV and Telegenic; they each have a different customer base and cover different events. Those clients want relationships with those companies so we will not merge them. Each company can continue to offer tailormade services to clients.”

Some of our clients in Europe have asked us to go into the US with them, and this is our first foothold there and we will start to grow our business outside of Europe.”

Quenin continued: “For EMG overall, our objective is to grow our business in Europe and moving forward, globally. In Europe we will continue to grow in the countries we are already in organically, or by acquisition, consolidating the market as we grow. But always our goal is to improve the level of service we provide to our clients.”

Through the acquisition, EMG now has a presence in the US too where Telegenic has an office.

“This is our first foot in the US market. Some of our clients in Europe have asked us to go into the US with them, and this is our first foothold there and we will start to grow our business outside of Europe.”

Despite its ambitions, the company is not currently considering US-based acquisitions, added Quenin.

“Maybe that isn’t our focus now, but we are always looking for opportunities that might make sense.”

EMG’s credits include the Tour de France and the Ryder Cup as well as live shows like Eurovision and the MTV Awards and entertainment-based shows such as The Voice and Masterchef.

Additional reporting by Will Strauss and Heather McLean.