Gravity Media Group continues its global growth with acquisition of Germany’s GENESIS Broadcast Services

Europe

Gravity Media Group (GMG), the global provider of complex live broadcast facilities and production services, has acquired German broadcast equipment rental house, Genesis Broadcast Services. This acquisition is the latest in a series of strategic moves by GMG, the owner of Gearhouse Broadcast. It follows the acquisitions of Hyperactive Broadcast and Input Media, and significant investment into its own existing American operation. As part of the deal, GENESIS Broadcast Services will be rebranded as Gearhouse Broadcast Germany, supplementing existing Gearhouse offices in the UK, Australia, USA, France and Qatar.

Having received substantial investment from TowerBrook Capital Partners in September 2016, GMG has been actively looking at ways to diversify its businesses into new areas and broaden its global service offering. The decision to move into the broadcast services markets of Northern Europe means that local rights owners and holders can now benefit from Gearhouse Broadcast’s expertise, global reach and the full range of broadcast services that it offers. These include event communications, equipment rental, outside broadcast, project solutions, RF and systems integration. Content producers in the region can also access Hyperactive Broadcast’s latest Avid-based workflows for the making of long-form dramas, TV and feature films.

“We’ve been watching Northern Europe for some time, and GENESIS Broadcast Services provides us with the perfect entry point through Germany to what is a very interesting and active market,” said Eamonn Dowdall, chief revenue officer at Gravity Media Group. “Tom Gehring and his team have done a fantastic job in building the Genesis business. With Gearhouse’s global support network, strength of relationships with key manufacturers and content owners and understanding of new technologies such as 4K, IP and remote production, we will further enhance the services they’re already offering.”

He added: “This deal will allow us to be more strategic in how we work with broadcasters in the region at both local and international events. It also provides more value to our existing clients that operate European-based businesses, as they can now access our services, expertise and support directly from Germany.”

Discussing the news, Tom Gehring, the managing director of Genesis Broadcast Services, said: “This is very exciting for all of us at Genesis, our clients and partners, and the region’s content production markets in general. Gearhouse Broadcast is a hugely respected brand around the world, and is recognised for its innovation, high service levels, and impressive list of projects and brands it works with. We’ll now be able to offer a more innovative and competitive service than ever before.”

Based in Hürth, on the outskirts of Cologne, Genesis Broadcast Services has achieved significant growth through offering a fast and reliable dry-hire service to customers in Germany, and around the world. Its clients include ARD, ZDF, RTL, Euromedia and MMC Studios.