Shed profits quadruple as Footballers' Wives gets US debut

by Sam Matthews, Brand Republic 01-Jun-05, 11:00

LONDON - 'Footballers' Wives' creator Shed has quadrupled its profit to £2.3m since floating on the stock market in March and plans to take its stable of shows to the US in a deal with BBC America.

Prison drama 'Bad Girls' and 'Footballers' Wives' will broadcast on BBC America in a primetime slot later this year.

Eileen Gallagher, chief executive of Shed, believes the series will really take off with US 'Desperate Housewives' fans because the two dramas feature "over-the-top" plots and are made for a "young" audience.

"We have been credited with creating a new type of drama. 'Housewives' is the same kind of thing in the US", Gallagher said.

Shed also announced plans to reduce its reliance on ITV by signing up to do more deals with BBC and Channel 4 to cash in on improved terms of trade, which gives independent TV companies more money on DVD sales.

As well as releasing four series of 'Footballer's Wives' in the UK and seven series of 'Bad Girls', Shed has signed DVD distribution deals in Australia, South Africa and the US for its shows.

New series 'Bombshell', 'The Fugitives' and 'Footballers Wives: Extra Time' all helped push the production company to improved figures.

Shed's pre-tax profit for the six months to February 28 leapt from £0.6m to £2.3m while turnover almost doubled to £11.9m.

Shed, which is quoted on AIM, saw its shares rise 1.5p to 103.5p.

"The performance for the first half confirms the strength of our programming, which consistently delivers good audiences for our broadcasters," Gallagher added.

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