David Frank (media executive)

David Frank (24 September 1958 – November 2021) was the CEO of Dial Square 86 and the chairman of The RightsXchange, which is an online marketplace for TV rights.[1] He was the founder of RDF Media (which created international TV hits Faking it, Wife Swap, and The Secret Millionaire) and the onetime CEO of Zodiak Media SA (the super-indie whose portfolio of hits include The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Totally Spies! and The Inbetweeners).[2] He was also Chairman (and a shareholder) of Mint Digital, a digital product development studio in London and New York,[3] and Objekt Films, a London-based film and video content creation company.[4]

David Frank
Frank in 2014
Born(1958-09-24)24 September 1958
Nakuru, Kenya
DiedNovember 2021 (aged 63)
NationalityBritish
EducationTrinity College, Oxford
OccupationCEO Dial Square 86
SpouseIsabelle Tuquet de Beauregard
Children3

Personal life and education

Frank was born in Nakuru, Kenya, the son of Joy (née Sollis) and Peter Frank. He was educated at Trinity College, Oxford, where he graduated with a BA in Jurisprudence.[5] Frank was married to Isabelle (née Tuquet de Beauregard) Frank, and had three children.

He died in November 2021, aged 63.[6]

Career

Prior to running one of the world's biggest TV production companies[7] Frank spent five years working in investment banking in London, first with Hill Samuel and latterly with Swiss Bank Corporation.[8] Following his time in finance he decided to pursue a career in journalism, first in newspapers – Euromoney – and subsequently working for the BBC as a television reporter specialising in business and finance.[9]

RDF Media

After three years at the BBC, he left to set up his own independent production company, RDF Media, in 1993 with £35,000 start-up capital.[10][11] His brother, Matthew Frank, joined RDF in 1994 to establish the company's distribution arm.[12] Originally the company focused on the production of factual programmes but rapidly expanded into other genres such as entertainment, drama and children's, establishing itself as a leading force in TV production in the UK.

Within 10 years RDF was turning over around £32m a year. In 2000 the company established a successful presence in the US.[13]

In 2002, Frank turned down the opportunity to become the Chief Executive at Channel Five.[14][15]

By 2005, revenues exceeded £40m and the company was floated on the London Stock Exchange (AIM) with a valuation of £49m.[16]

In 2006, RDF won its third 'Best Independent Production Company' award at the annual Broadcast Awards, adding to wins in 2002 and 2004. It was the first and, as of 2016, the only company to have won the award three times.[17][18][19]

Queengate Affair

In July 2007, RDF became embroiled in a controversy concerning a documentary series the company was making about the Queen.[20] The incident, which became known as Queengate, centred on manipulation of footage in a promotional tape for the series which was shown to journalists at a BBC One press event purporting to show the Queen storming out of a photoshoot with Annie Leibovitz. The affair led to the resignations of RDF Director of Programmes Stephen Lambert and BBC One Controller Peter Fincham.[21]

Management Buy-Out

The controversy resulted in a sharp fall in the RDF share price on AIM. In 2009, with revenues now of approximately £150m and in response to the fall in the share price, Frank led a management buy-out of the company's shares supported by Dutch private equity firm Dasym Investment Strategies (formerly Cyrte Investments).[22][23]

In July 2010, RDF Media was sold to Zodiak Entertainment, for a reported £150m, and Frank was appointed the CEO of the enlarged group, now renamed Zodiak Media.[24][25][26][27]

Zodiak Media

The acquisition of RDF Media, in 2010, created a £500m "super-indie" global production giant, Zodiak Media.[28][29] Zodiak Media is an independent media company that produces entertainment, factual, drama and kids' programming, with 45 companies operating in 17 countries and $800 million in annual revenues.[30] It is headquartered in Paris and with other key offices in London, Los Angeles, Milan, Stockholm and Moscow. It is majority-owned by Italian conglomerate De Agostini and operates across the world.[31]

Following his appointment as CEO in July 2010, Frank rebranded Zodiak Entertainment as Zodiak Media and organised the group along geographical divisions to replace the acquired group brands (Marathon Media Group, Magnolia, Zodiak Entertainment and RDF Media). He launched a “creativity and innovation unit” at the centre of the group to look for shows and formats with the best chance of becoming international hits. In 2011 Zodiak acquired UK comedy producer Bwark Productions (makers of hit TV series and movie The Inbetweeners). Under Frank, the group also made its first scripted series for a US broadcaster (Being Human for SyFy Channel). Frank also oversaw a $267m refinancing of the group's debt through a deal with a syndicate of international banks.[32]

Frank informed majority owner De Agostini several months prior to his departure of his intent to leave Zodiak at the end of 2013.[33]

During his two decades in TV, Frank gained a reputation as an executive who, although driven by business, was capable of creating a very enjoyable working environment.[34]

Dial Square 86 and TRX

Frank was the CEO of Dial Square 86, which he founded after leaving Zodiak Media. The company launched in 2014.[35][36][37][38]

In June 2015, Frank announced the creation of The RightsXchange (TRX),[39] an online marketplace for TV rights.[40][41] David Frank remained CEO of Dial Square 86, the parent company of the new venture, and was also chairman of TRX.[42]

In August 2016, TRX announced that it had received co-investment from Sky and Channel 4,[43][44][45] marking the first time that the two companies had jointly invested in a start up.[46][47]

References
  1. "Our Tenants : Somerset House". Retrieved 24 April 2014. Dial Square 86 is a company specialising in creating, financing and exploiting audio-visual content for media platforms worldwide. Run by David Frank (former CEO of Zodiak Media Group, one of the largest television production companies with the world with annual sales of c£500m).
  2. Curtis, Chris (26 September 2013). "Frank has digital ambitions". Broadcast.
  3. Parker, Robin (9 January 2008). "Supernanny's Lee joins Mint". Broadcast. RDF chief executive David Frank is Mint's chairman.
  4. "About: Objekt Films". Retrieved 23 June 2015. David Frank goes back to roots with son to create Objekt Films
  5. Curtis, Chris (22 September 2010). "David Frank, Zodiak Media Group". Broadcast.
  6. "International TV business pioneer and RDF Media founder David Frank dies aged 63". C21Media. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  7. Roxborough, Scott (23 September 2013). "Marc-Antoine d'Halluin Replaces David Frank as Zodiak Media CEO".
  8. Curtis, Chris (22 September 2010). "David Frank, Zodiak Media Group". Broadcast.
  9. "57. David Frank". The Guardian. 9 July 2007.
  10. "INDIE FINANCE – Building RDF into a TV money-spinner". Broadcast. 18 May 2001.
  11. "Zodiak gets Frank with RDF acquisition". C21 Media. 2 June 2010.
  12. Kemp, Stuart (10 January 2014). "Zodiak Rights Hires Steve Macallister as CEO". The Hollywood Reporter.
  13. "INDIE FINANCE – Building RDF into a TV money-spinner". Broadcast. 18 May 2001.
  14. Deans, Jason (16 December 2002). "RDF head shortlisted for C5 top job". The Guardian.
  15. "Frank pulls out of Five chief race". Broadcast. 19 December 2002.
  16. "57. David Frank". The Guardian. 9 July 2007.
  17. "RDF Media Group PLC | Acquisition of IWC Media Ltd | FE InvestEgate".
  18. "Broadcast Awards 2002". Broadcast. 6 February 2002.
  19. "Broadcast Awards winners 2004". Broadcast. 13 February 2004.
  20. "RDF results hit by Crowngate". Broadcast. 31 October 2007.
  21. "RDF to miss targets as suspension hits home". Broadcast. 31 October 2007.
  22. Bulkley, Kate (18 February 2009). "RDF steels itself with £2m in cost savings". Broadcast.
  23. Loveday, Samantha (5 February 2009). "RDF MBO closes". Licensing.
  24. Sweney, Mark (2 June 2010). "RDF Media sold to Zodiak Entertainment". The Guardian.
  25. Rushton, Katherine (2 June 2010). "Zodiak closes RDF deal". Broadcast.
  26. Rushton, Katherine (3 June 2010). "Zodiak deal transforms RDF". Broadcast.
  27. Loveday, Samantha (22 September 2010). "RDF rebrands as Zodiak Media Group". Licensing.
  28. Rushton, Katherine (2 June 2010). "Zodiak closes RDF deal". Broadcast.
  29. "Zodiak gets Frank with RDF acquisition". C21 Media. 2 June 2010.
  30. Bulkey, Kate (17 February 2012). "Signs of Zodiak's next move". Broadcast. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  31. Keslassy, Elsa (4 February 2012). "New Zodiak chief overseas expansion". Variety. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  32. Keslassy, Elsa (4 February 2012). "New Zodiak chief overseas expansion". Variety. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  33. Walsh, Barry (23 September 2013). "David Frank leaving Zodiak, successor appointed". Kidscreen.
  34. "INTERVIEW – Facts and figures". Broadcast. 8 September 1999. 'don't take things too seriously,' Durkin says.
  35. Smith, Oliver (13 October 2014). "Veteran TV boss David Frank raises £30m to fund takeovers". City AM. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  36. White, Peter (9 October 2014). "Dial Square 86 buys talent agency in first deal". Broadcastnow.co.uk. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  37. Krewen, Nick (9 October 2014). "Dial Square 86 names CFO, acquires Red Hare Digital". Realscreen. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  38. Dams, Tim (18 November 2014). "David Frank turns up the Dial". Televisual. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  39. "The RightsXchange". The RightsXchange. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  40. "David Frank's Dial Square launching virtual market". 18 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015. Dial Square 86, the media investment company run by David and Matthew Frank, is launching a digital platform that will allow distributors and buyers to work together within a new 'virtual market'.
  41. "Dial Square 86 preps online content marketplace". Retrieved 19 June 2015. Dial Square 86, the latest business venture from former Zodiak Media Group executives David and Matthew Frank, is unveiling its RightsXchange (TRX) platform.
  42. "Our Team". Dial Square 86. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  43. Williams, Christopher (11 August 2016). "Sky and Channel 4 make joint investment to sell more British TV abroad". The Telegraph. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 August 2016. Sky and Channel 4 have made a joint investment in a new online service that aims to make it easier for television producers to sell their programmes to foreign broadcasters.
  44. "Channel 4, Sky Invest in TV Rights Trading Platform TRX". Variety. 11 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  45. "Channel 4 and Sky invest in startup selling British TV content overseas". City A.M. 11 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  46. Williams, Christopher (11 August 2016). "Sky and Channel 4 make joint investment to sell more British TV abroad". The Telegraph. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 August 2016. TRX is the first joint investment by Sky and Channel 4.
  47. "Sky, Channel 4 Buy Stakes in TV Rights Online Platform". The Hollywood Reporter. 11 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016. The deal marks the first time Sky and Channel 4 have co-invested in a startup.
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