Pinewood Shepperton in TV funding move

Chief executive Ivan Dunleavy said the facilities group was likely to begin investing in productions from next year.

“[Financing] is something we are currently doing with films, which is easier than with TV because of the tax breaks.

“For TV, we’re looking at partnering with established producers and we’d be interested in large-scale productions rather than one-off programmes or docs,” he said.

The funding model could involve pilots being shot at its facilities on the basis that a commissioned series is made at Pinewood’s studios.

Dunleavy said Pinewood’s new 30,000 sq ft stage, which is set for completion next year, would be ideal for any TV project in which the company decides to invest.

He added that the facilities group would aim to begin funding programmes from next year, but he declined to say precisely when, or how much would be available.

Last week, Pinewood revealed it was backing UK film Last Passenger.

It followed the July announcement that it would provide facilities and co-investment for A Fantastic Fear Of Everything, the first film to receive support from funding initiative Pinewood Films.

Pinewood Shepperton’s last set of financial results showed a continuing decline in income from TV, which was offset by the growth of its film services division.

The facilities group’s TV revenues dropped from £5.1m for the first six months of 2010 to £4.7m for the same period this year.