Seven buys into GSTV

Phil Smith.
Phil Smith.
The lion's share of an independent production company run by Queenstown man Phil Smith has been snapped up by Australia's largest broadcasting company.

Seventy percent of Great Southern Television, which has made popular television series such as The Lion Man, The Cult, Hillary and Coast New Zealand, has been bought by Seven Network owner Seven West Media.

In a deal thought to be worth almost $14 million, Auckland-based retail magnate Sir David Levene has sold his 50% share and Mr Smith's 50% stakeholding has been reduced to 30%.

The two founded Great Southern in 2002.

Mr Smith, who remains chief executive, said the ideas for many of Great Southern's early series, such as Remarkable Vets and Eating Media Lunch, were conceived in Queenstown.

Although the company is headquartered in Auckland, he believed Seven Network was keen to produce more Queenstown-based content.

''We've got heaps of shows that we're developing here.

''I think there's going to be a drama boom in Queenstown, right now.

''We anticipate we'll make two dramas in the next year in Queenstown; not small ones - $15 million to $20 million budgets.''

He said he and Pip Hall, daughter of Kiwi playwright Roger Hall, are writing a thriller, One Lane Bridge, which will be shot locally.

''We've just spent the last couple of months driving around the Crown Range [looking for locations] - it's a really good thriller.''

A locally set children's drama is also in the pipeline, Mr Smith confirmed.

''Seven looking to focus here just means more work for people here.

''Having a studio and being able to build some sets would be good, but most of the stuff we're looking at is location shoots.''

Mr Smith said Sir David Levene (88) is selling down his assets and investments.

''But he also knew for us to go to the next level, we needed to get someone international.''

Mr Smith said he first met Seven Network's chief executive about 10 years ago in the French film festival location of Cannes.

''We did lots of good, healthy deals, so Seven became our de facto partner in Australia, anyway.

''So when we started thinking about Sir David leaving, Seven was our first [idea].''

Seven had already shown interest in Queenstown, he added, as actor Rebecca Gibney had set the second series of her drama, Wanted, there and in Central Otago.

-By Philip Chandler

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