Ten Alps
Ten Alps is a media production company that produces documentaries of factual materials mostly for TV, but also radio, internet and print. Although it is UK-based, much of its output is distributed world-wide. The origin of Ten Alps is Planet 24 and the merging with Brook Lapping (a documentary production company set up by Brian Lapping and Norma Percy).
Contents
Part of a trend
Two trends explain the emergence of media production companies in the UK: (1) the shedding of in-house production at the BBC (introduced by John Birt) and (2) the increasing competition in the UK TV market. Ten Alps is among the beneficiaries of these developments.
BBC sheds, others reap
As part of the restructuring of the BBC during the early 1990s BBC producers were given the flexibility of acquiring external (non-BBC) programs. This was sold as "producers' choice" and the consequences were dramatic. Most BBC producers saw this as a threat but also an opportunity. The threat was that in-house production would be progressively scaled down, and job security at the BBC would be undermined. Furthermore, in-house production costs would be slashed -- hence undermining the possibility of quality or innovative productions. The opportunity that arose was for independent companies to produce content for the BBC, and in response most of the BBC top producers set up their own production companies (while in many instances remaining at the BBC). Most of the initial content contracts were obtained by the former BBC producers through the informal in-house "old boy" network agreement. (Initially, opportunity to sell to the BBC was not accessible to non-former BBC producers). The BBC's restructuring created conditions for the emergence of dozens of companies. Although most of the companies are centered in London around the White City area (surrounding the BBC), several other companies have arisen in the other BBC broadcasting areas. These companies can be described as either commercial operations (companies set up for profit) or content production for political purposes (companies which aim to sell a specific message). While in the past the BBC retained editorial and quality control, the reliance on the outside producers has enabled producers to sell a message that otherwise would not have been broadcast. An example: Israeli interests bought into several production companies set up by former BBC producers, and this enabled them to market documentaries with an Israeli-slant.
Other shake-ups
While the BBC was shaken up, the remainder of the UK TV/media market also underwent major restructuring. The main media companies, ITV, Granada, etc. were suddenly subject of takeovers and inevitably this put pressure on managers to improve profits, thus reduce costs, which inevitably led to outsourcing of content acquisition. Again, developments in the TV media landscape in the UK gave rise to independent companies that could sell content to the remaining commercial broadcasters. Once again, Ten Alps is one of the players in this market.
Divisions/businesses
Broadcast
- Brook Lapping
- Blakeway
- Ten Alps’ Brook Lapping is a 70% shareholder in the consortium that is behind Teachers TV.[1]
Digital
- Public TV which offers 15 dedicated digital TV channels.
- won the contract to produce Kent TV for Kent County Council which went live in September 2007. *working closely with the Nobel Foundation and the Norwegian government on developing a Peace Channel.[2]
Communications
- Recent acquisitions include Atalink, Mongoose and education & CSR specialists dbda. We also have two bespoke marketing agencies – RMA and MTD[3]
Subsidiaries
The principal subsidiaries of the Group during the year to March 2007 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Company name | Country of incorporation, registration and operation | Class of capital, % held | Description of activity |
3BM TV Limited | England & Wales | Ordinary 100% | Direct Film Production |
Atalink Limited | England & Wales | Ordinary 100% | Direct Contract Publishing |
Blakeway Productions Limited | England & Wales | Ordinary 100% Direct | Film and Radio Production |
Brook Lapping Productions* | England & Wales | Ordinary 100% Indirect | Film and Radio Limited Production |
Cameron Publishing Limited` | England & Wales | Ordinary 100% Indirect | Contract Publishing |
Education Digital Limited^ | England & Wales | Ordinary 70% Indirect | Production of Education Films |
HDTV Limited | England& Wales | Ordinary 100% Direct | Film and Radio Production |
Know Comment+ | England & Wales | Ordinary 100% Indirect | Agency and Media Training |
Ten Alps Live Limited | England & Wales | Ordinary 100% Direct | Event Organisers |
Ten Alps MTD Limited | Scotland | Ordinary 100% Direct Preference 100% Direct | Advertising and Marketing Services |
Ten Alps RMA Limited | England & Wales | Ordinary 100% Direct | Advertising and Marketing Services |
Ten Alps Publishing Limited | England & Wales | Ordinary 100% Direct Preference 100% Direct | Contract Publishing |
Ten Alps TV Limited | England & Wales | Ordinary 100% Direct | Film and Radio Production |
|
Principals
Board of Directors
- Alex Connock – CEO and co-founder
- Bob Geldof – Co-founder & Non Executive Director
- Nitil Patel – Finance director
- Brian Walden – Non Executive Chairman
- Tim Hoare – Non Executive Director
Officers
- Alex Connock - Chief Executive, Ten Alps Plc
- Nitil Patel - Finance Director, Ten Alps Plc
- Adrian Dunleavy – Chief Executive, Ten Alps Communications
- Nigel Dacre - Managing Director, Ten Alps Digital
- Fiona Stourton - Editorial Director, Ten Alps Broadcast
- Tony Allen – Group Financial Controller, Ten Alps Plc
- Derek Morren - Finance Director, Ten Alps Communications
Contact
- Ten Alps Plc Head Office
- 9 Savoy Street
- London WC2E 7HR
- Tel: 020 7878 2311
- Fax: 020 7878 2483
- Website: www.tenalps.com
Notes
- ↑ Broadcast
- ↑ Ten Alps Digital, accessed 11 November 2007.
- ↑ Communications, accessed 11 November 2007.
- ↑ Ten Alps plc Annual Report and Accounts, for the year ended 31 March 2007, accessed 11 November 2007