Screentime

Screentime is an Australian television production company that develops, produces and distributes scripted and unscripted television projects, primarily for audiences and broadcasters in Australia and New Zealand. The company was established in 1996 by Bob Campbell and Des Monaghan with backing from Capital Investment Group. Its first production was the New Zealand talk show 5.30 with Jude, which aired on TV One for three seasons and established Screentime as a producer operating across the Tasman market. A major early turning point came in 1999, when Screentime acquired the format rights to Popstars from its New Zealand creator. The company subsequently sold and co-produced adaptations in multiple territories, helping demonstrate the commercial value of a format-led production model. Popstars became one of the company's most important early international assets and contributed to Screentime's expansion beyond commissioned local programming. The company later became associated with a range of popular Australian television properties, including the Underbelly franchise, the observational reality series RBT and the legal drama Janet King. Screentime expanded its production footprint in New Zealand through a 2001 merger involving its New Zealand division and Auckland-based independent producer Communicado. The combined operation was renamed Screentime-Communicado, later generally referred to as Screentime Communicado. This arrangement brought together Screentime's Australian production resources and Communicado's established New Zealand production capabilities. The company also pursued international partnerships. In 2003 it took a 50 percent stake in the Dublin-based production company ShinAwil, creating an Irish joint venture connected to the production of local programming and Screentime formats. That investment gave Screentime a direct production presence in Ireland, although the stake was later sold. During the same period, Screentime established Screentime Partners, a United Kingdom distribution joint venture with ECM International. The London-based business was intended to distribute Screentime's scripted and unscripted programming and formats. Screentime later exited that activity, selling Screentime Partners to Shed Productions in 2006 while continuing to license formats and work through production partnerships. In 2012, Banijay Entertainment acquired a controlling stake in Screentime. The transaction linked the Australian producer to the wider Banijay production and distribution group and gave Screentime access to Banijay formats for adaptation in Australia. Des Monaghan stepped down from his executive position at Screentime in 2014. In 2015, Screentime sold its 49 percent interest in ShinAwil, completing its withdrawal from that Irish investment. Screentime has continued to operate as a production brand within the Banijay group, with activity focused on locally developed and adapted television for Australia and New Zealand. In 2024, its New Zealand operation established Remarkable Studios NZ in Queenstown as an in-house film and television production facility. The studio was intended to provide a principal production base for Screentime New Zealand's future projects, beginning with the crime drama A Remarkable Place to Die. Screentime's business model combines development of original concepts, adaptation of international formats, production services and collaboration with broadcasters and other media companies.

Screentime was formed in Australia in 1996 by Bob Campbell and Des Monaghan with Capital Investment Group. Its first production was the New Zealand talk show 5.30 with Jude, broadcast on TV One for three seasons. From the beginning, the company pursued a trans-Tasman production model rather than limiting itself to the Australian market. In 1999, Screentime acquired the rights to Popstars, a talent competition format created in New Zealand. The format became an important international property: Screentime sold and co-produced adaptations in several territories, establishing the company as both a producer and a format-rights business. This experience shaped its later emphasis on combining locally produced programs with concepts that could be adapted for other markets. The company strengthened its New Zealand activities in April 2001 when Screentime New Zealand merged with Auckland-based independent production company Communicado. Communicado had been established in 1983 and was known as a New Zealand independent production house. Following the merger, the combined production unit was known as Screentime-Communicado. The transaction expanded Screentime's local production capacity and management relationships in New Zealand. Screentime also pursued international expansion in the early 2000s. In January 2003, it acquired a 50 percent stake in Dublin-based ShinAwil, whose work included the Irish version of Popstars. Screentime and ShinAwil created a joint production arm for Irish activity. In February 2003, former BBC, Seven Network and Network Ten executive Jacqui Culliton was appointed Screentime's head of entertainment. Later that year, Screentime formed Screentime Partners with UK distribution company ECM International. The London-based venture was designed to distribute Screentime's scripted and unscripted programs and formats. Screentime exited the UK distribution venture in 2006, selling Screentime Partners to Shed Productions. The sale narrowed the company's direct international distribution footprint, but Screentime continued to license formats and enter production partnerships. Its Australian production portfolio included widely recognized properties such as Popstars, the Underbelly franchise, RBT and Janet King, spanning talent television, crime-related drama, factual programming and legal drama. In 2012, Banijay Entertainment acquired a controlling stake in Screentime. The transaction brought the company into the Banijay production network and gave it access to Banijay formats for Australian adaptations. Des Monaghan left his executive position in 2014. Screentime subsequently sold its 49 percent stake in ShinAwil in 2015, ending its direct investment in the Irish company. The company remained active in industry collaboration and production development. In 2019, it partnered with the Screen Makers Conference in Adelaide. In October 2024, Screentime New Zealand launched plans for Remarkable Studios NZ, a Queenstown-based film and television facility intended to house future productions. The crime drama A Remarkable Place to Die was the first production associated with the new studio. This development represented a further investment in production infrastructure and reinforced Screentime New Zealand's role as an in-house production base.

• 2024

  Remarkable Studios NZ established

  [1]Screentimeen.wikipedia.org

  Screentime New Zealand established a production studio in Queenstown, with A Remarkable Place to Die as its first production.

• 2015

  ShinAwil investment exited

  [1]Screentimeen.wikipedia.org

  Screentime sold its 49 percent stake in ShinAwil.

• 2012

  Banijay takes control

  [1]Screentimeen.wikipedia.org

  Banijay Entertainment acquired a controlling stake in Screentime.

• 2006

  UK distribution business sold

  [1]Screentimeen.wikipedia.org

  Screentime sold Screentime Partners to Shed Productions and continued its format-licensing and production-partnership activities.

• 2003

  Irish and UK expansion

  [1]Screentimeen.wikipedia.org

  Screentime took a 50 percent stake in ShinAwil and formed the UK distribution venture Screentime Partners with ECM International.

• 2001

  New Zealand merger with Communicado

  [1]Screentimeen.wikipedia.org

  Screentime New Zealand merged with Communicado and became Screentime-Communicado.

• 1999

  Popstars rights acquired

  [1]Screentimeen.wikipedia.org

  Screentime acquired the rights to the Popstars talent competition format and began developing its international format business.

• 1996

  Screentime is founded

  [1]Screentimeen.wikipedia.org

  Bob Campbell and Des Monaghan formed Screentime with Capital Investment Group.

A locally rooted, internationally connected television producer specializing in premium scripted series, factual and unscripted programming, and adaptable television formats for Australia, New Zealand and partner markets.

• Television format and talent competition · 1999

  Popstars

  Popstars is a talent-competition format whose rights Screentime acquired in 1999 from its New Zealand creator. Screentime developed, sold and co-produced adaptations for international markets, making the property a foundational part of the company's early format-led expansion. Its commercial importance came from the ability to reproduce the core competition concept in different territories while allowing local broadcasters and production teams to adapt casting, presentation and music-industry elements.

• Scripted television drama

  Underbelly

  Underbelly is a crime-drama television franchise associated with Screentime's Australian scripted production portfolio. The format and its related series helped establish the company as a producer of commercially prominent local drama and demonstrated its ability to build continuing television properties around Australian criminal history and crime narratives.

• Unscripted factual television

  RBT

  RBT is an Australian factual television series built around roadside breath-testing operations and related law-enforcement activity. It represents Screentime's unscripted and observational production work, using real-world footage and cases to create accessible factual entertainment for a domestic broadcast audience.

• Scripted legal drama

  Janet King

  Janet King is a scripted legal drama produced by Screentime. The series forms part of the company's premium Australian drama output and illustrates its involvement in continuing character-led television narratives rather than only standalone factual or reality programs.

• Scripted crime drama · 2024

  A Remarkable Place to Die

  A Remarkable Place to Die is a crime drama identified as the first production filmed at Remarkable Studios NZ in Queenstown. The project marked the opening phase of Screentime New Zealand's dedicated in-house production facility and its expanded production base in the South Island of New Zealand.

• 2019Screen Makers Conference partnership

  Australia

  Screentime partnered with the Screen Makers Conference in Adelaide, linking the production company with an industry event focused on Australia's screen-making community.

  Outcome. The partnership supported Screentime's participation in the Australian screen-production sector; further commercial outcomes are not specified in the reference material.

  Source

• 2024

  Create a Queenstown production facilityStrategy

  Background

  Screentime New Zealand sought a dedicated base for producing future film and television projects in the region.

  Action taken

  The company established Remarkable Studios NZ in Queenstown as an in-house production studio.

  Aftermath

  A Remarkable Place to Die became the first production filmed at the facility, which was positioned as a primary base for future Screentime New Zealand projects.

  Source

• 2012

  Join the Banijay production groupM&A

  Background

  Screentime had developed a substantial local production and format portfolio and was an acquisition target for a larger international production group.

  Action taken

  Banijay Entertainment acquired a controlling stake in Screentime.

  Aftermath

  Screentime became connected to Banijay's international production network and obtained access to Banijay formats for Australian adaptations.

  Source

• 2003

  Invest in ShinAwilM&A

  Background

  Screentime was expanding the international footprint of its formats, including Popstars, and sought a direct presence in Ireland.

  Action taken

  The company acquired a 50 percent stake in Dublin-based ShinAwil and formed a joint production operation.

  Aftermath

  Screentime gained an Irish production partnership before later selling its remaining 49 percent stake in 2015.

  Source

• 2003

  Establish UK distribution armStrategy

  Background

  Screentime wanted a dedicated channel for international distribution of its programs and formats.

  Action taken

  It formed Screentime Partners with ECM International in the United Kingdom.

  Aftermath

  The venture was sold to Shed Productions in 2006, after which Screentime continued international licensing through other arrangements.

  Source

• 2001

  Merge with CommunicadoM&A

  Background

  Screentime sought to strengthen its New Zealand production capacity and combine its operation with an established Auckland independent producer.

  Action taken

  Screentime New Zealand merged with Communicado and operated as Screentime-Communicado.

  Aftermath

  The merger expanded Screentime's trans-Tasman production platform and brought Communicado personnel into the combined operation.

  Source

• 1999

  Build a format-rights business around PopstarsStrategy

  Background

  Screentime was developing beyond commissioned local production and had an opportunity to commercialize a New Zealand-created talent format.

  Action taken

  The company acquired the Popstars format rights and pursued international sales and co-productions.

  Aftermath

  Popstars became a significant early international property and helped establish Screentime's format-led business model.

  Source

1. 1Screentimeen.wikipedia.org