Optomen

Optomen is a television production company whose principal activity is the development and production of unscripted programming. The company operates through Optomen Television Ltd. in the United Kingdom and Optomen Productions Inc. in the United States. Its work spans factual entertainment, food and cooking, lifestyle, documentary, reality, and formatted programming for broadcasters and platforms in both countries. The company has produced programmes for a broad range of British broadcasters, including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky1, Good Food, and Discovery. In the United States, it has produced or co-produced programming for Fox, HBO, A&E, Discovery, TLC, PBS, and Food Network. This broadcaster mix reflects Optomen’s position as a producer of commercially accessible unscripted formats that can be adapted for different national markets. Optomen’s best-known programmes include The F Word, Kitchen Nightmares, Great British Menu, and Police Camera Action!. Food programming has been especially important to the company’s identity and international catalogue. Through its relationship with Gordon Ramsay, Optomen was also associated with One Potato Two Potato, a joint venture involved in television production. Optomen has additionally published companion books connected with programmes including The F Word, Great British Menu, Kitchen Nightmares, Two Fat Ladies, and The Naked Chef. The company expanded its United States presence through Optomen Productions Inc., which was launched in 2002. Its international distribution operation, Optomen International, sells completed programmes and formats to broadcasters and other media companies around the world. This combination of production and distribution allows the brand to participate both in the creation of programmes and in their exploitation beyond the original commissioning territory. Optomen has received industry recognition including an International Emmy, three British Academy Television Awards, three Royal Television Society awards, three Indie awards, and two Glenfiddich awards, according to the company’s Wikipedia entry. These awards indicate recognition across factual, food, and unscripted television categories, although the available reference material does not identify the individual winning programmes or years. On 13 August 2010, All3Media announced that it had agreed to acquire Optomen in a transaction reported at £40 million. The transaction included Optomen, its New York-based subsidiary Optomen Productions Inc., and the One Potato Two Potato joint venture. Optomen subsequently became part of the All3Media production group. Following Banijay’s acquisition of All3Media, Optomen is identified as part of Banijay UK. The available material does not provide a current standalone revenue figure, detailed management roster, or precise headquarters address.

Optomen developed as a television production company focused on unscripted programming for British broadcasters and, later, for international markets. Its production activities are associated with Optomen Television Ltd. in the United Kingdom. The available reference material does not state the company’s founding year or identify its founder, so those details remain unconfirmed. The company’s output has covered factual entertainment, food, cooking, lifestyle, documentary, and reality television. Its British commissioning relationships have included the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky1, Good Food, and Discovery. This spread gave Optomen access to both public-service and commercial broadcasting, while its focus on popular factual programming created opportunities for repeatable and exportable formats. A United States operation, Optomen Productions Inc., was launched in 2002 and based in New York according to the reference material. The American operation produced directly for, or in partnership with, networks and broadcasters including Fox, HBO, A&E, Discovery, TLC, PBS, and Food Network. The US presence broadened Optomen’s production capacity and supported its ability to work with American commissioners while retaining links to British-originated factual and food programming. Optomen became particularly associated with food-led television and high-profile factual entertainment. Programmes listed among its best-known productions include The F Word, Kitchen Nightmares, Great British Menu, and Police Camera Action!. The company also published books linked to several of its television properties, including The F Word, Great British Menu, Kitchen Nightmares, Two Fat Ladies, and The Naked Chef. These publishing activities extended selected programme brands beyond broadcast television. The company established Optomen International as a distribution arm. It sells completed programmes internationally, with The F Word, Kitchen Nightmares, Great British Menu, and Police Camera Action! identified as especially popular catalogue titles. Distribution became an important complement to production because it enabled Optomen to commercialize finished programmes in territories beyond their original commissions. Optomen also became connected with One Potato Two Potato, a production venture established with Gordon Ramsay. The venture was included in the 2010 acquisition of Optomen by All3Media, alongside Optomen’s principal business and its New York subsidiary. On 13 August 2010, All3Media announced the acquisition of Optomen in a takeover reported at £40 million. The transaction transferred control of Optomen, Optomen Productions Inc., and One Potato Two Potato to All3Media. Optomen consequently operated within the All3Media production group rather than as an independent standalone business. Later corporate ownership placed Optomen within Banijay UK after Banijay acquired All3Media. The brand remains characterized in the available material as an active unscripted television producer and distributor. Optomen has been credited with winning an International Emmy, three BAFTAs, three Royal Television Society awards, three Indie awards, and two Glenfiddich awards. The available source does not specify the programme, category, or year for each award. No reliable information in the supplied material identifies current or former executives, a precise headquarters address, annual financial results, or a standalone public listing.

• 2010

  All3Media announces acquisition

  [1]Optomenen.wikipedia.org

  On 13 August, All3Media announced an agreement to acquire Optomen, including Optomen Productions Inc. and the One Potato Two Potato joint venture, in a transaction reported at £40 million.

• 2002

  Launch of Optomen Productions Inc.

  [1]Optomenen.wikipedia.org

  Optomen launched its United States production operation, Optomen Productions Inc., in New York.

• Optomen becomes part of Banijay UK

  [1]Optomenen.wikipedia.org

  Following Banijay’s acquisition of All3Media, Optomen is identified as part of Banijay UK.

An internationally oriented producer and distributor of unscripted television, with a notable specialization in food, cooking, factual entertainment, and adaptable television formats.

• Food and factual entertainment television

  The F Word

  A food-focused factual entertainment programme associated with Optomen’s internationally distributed catalogue. The title is also one of the programmes for which Optomen published a companion book.

• Food and reality television

  Kitchen Nightmares

  A food and reality television programme associated with Optomen and its distribution catalogue. The programme has been among the company’s most commercially prominent international titles and also generated a companion publication.

• Cooking competition television

  Great British Menu

  A British food and cooking programme associated with Optomen’s production and international distribution activities. It is identified as one of the company’s popular exported programmes and also supported a companion book.

• Factual documentary television

  Police Camera Action!

  A factual television programme included among Optomen International’s notable distributed titles. The available reference does not provide detailed production credits or launch information.

• Cooking television

  Two Fat Ladies

  A cooking programme for which Optomen published a companion book. The supplied material does not specify the company’s exact production role or the programme’s original broadcast date.

• Cooking television

  The Naked Chef

  A cooking programme connected with Optomen’s publishing activity through a companion book. The available reference does not provide further details about Optomen’s production or distribution role.

• 2010

  Sale of Optomen to All3MediaM&A

  Background

  Optomen operated as an independent unscripted television production company with a United Kingdom business, a United States subsidiary, an international distribution arm, and an association with One Potato Two Potato.

  Action taken

  All3Media agreed to acquire Optomen in a transaction reported at £40 million. The scope included Optomen, Optomen Productions Inc., and One Potato Two Potato.

  Aftermath

  Optomen became part of the All3Media group. It is subsequently identified as part of Banijay UK following Banijay’s acquisition of All3Media.

  Reported takeover value. £40 million (2010 announcement)

  Source

1. 1Optomenen.wikipedia.org