Night Train Media buys Eccho Rights

Producer-distributor and financier Night Train Media has acquired scripted distribution and development outfit Eccho Rights from Korean giant CJ ENM. 

Eccho, which has offices in London, Stockholm, Seoul and other locations, will continue to operate as an independent entity within the Night Train Media Group (NTM), and NTM will continue to co-finance with third-party distributors. 

Eccho chief executive Fredrik af Malmborg retains a substantial shareholding in the company and will remain in post, while NTM founder Herbert L. Kloiber become chairman of the Eccho Rights board. Eccho co-founder Nicola Söderlund is to retire after two decades across Eccho and Sparks Network. 

Eccho licenses around 17,000 hours of drama each year and has more than 10 million subscribers for its various direct-to-consumer digital channels. The company focuses on drama development originating from Turkey, Scandinavia, South Korea and Western Europe. 

It has been growing its UK presence since it set up in 2021 under the management of Adam Barth and Lucy Roberts, and has been a key partner of Channel 5 dramas Desperate Measures (Clapperboard) and  Compulsion (LA Productions). 

Barth will remain as director of co-production, development and acquisitions, while Roberts is director of sales. Handan Özkubat will continue as director of Turkish drama and digital operations. 

The acquisition follows on from NTM taking a majority in Paul Heaney’s factual distributor BossaNova a year ago. 

Kloiber said: “We are impressed by Eccho Rights’ growth, not only by its sales of popular drama series from across the globe, but also by its strategic vision. Eccho’s key business areas are complementary and synergetic with NTM’s.  

“Combining our strengths could not come at a better time when even worldwide streamers are increasingly licensing content in selected territories. We are looking forward to supporting Eccho Rights in its growth plans and to closely working with this expert team.” 

Malmborg added: “We share the same vision for the future of TV production and distribution, and having the support of NTM, Eccho Rights will strengthen its position as the go-to partner for creators looking to retain their independence in an ever-consolidated industry.”