Former UKTV Director of Commissioning Jane Rogerson and IWC Media Executive Producer Ross Harper are teaming together to launch Red Sky Productions, a new independent production company based in Glasgow, Scotland.
The indie will have a focus on factual and factual entertainment programming and will produce shows for UK broadcasters as well as the international and digital market. A select group of angel investors have taken a minority stake in the indie. Red Sky has also received funding from Scottish Enterprise, Glasgow City Council as well as Channel 4’s Alpha Fund, which supports creative development for independent production companies in the nations and regions.
Jane Rogerson, who exited UKTV in 2014 after several years with the broadcaster, will serve as joint Managing Director of Red Sky alongside co-founder Ross Harper. The duo have already started to form their executive team, with BBC Scotland’s Ros Homan joining the fledgling indie as Head of Development. Additionally, former Firecracker Films CEO Sue Oriel will take a key role in commercial and business affairs; assuming responsibility for establishing the management and financial side of the business and finding a distribution partner to support Red Sky in its international ambitions.
“I’m thrilled to be joining forces with Ross and Sue again and to welcome Ros as our Head of Development. As a true independent based in Scotland we’re able to drive towards our ambition to make stand out and entertaining factual content of the highest quality across the UK and internationally”, Jane Rogerson said in statement. “We’re fortunate to have found a group of minority investors who can add stellar experience and expertise to our company. We’re brimming with ideas and can’t wait to get cracking.”
During her time at UKTV, Jane Rogerson was instrumental in spearheading the company’s push into originals and she worked on a range of such shows including Dynamo: Magician Impossible, Yes, Prime Minister, Red Dwarf X, Hairy Bikers Mississippi Adventure and Choccywoccydoodah. Ross Harper’s recent credits include Slow Train Through Africa with Griff Rhys Jones for ITV, The Inca: Masters of the Clouds for BBC4, and Robbie Coltrane’s Critical Evidence for A+E.
“Jane and I are passionate about making Red Sky a vibrant hub that nurtures creative talent. Developing and supporting our team’s individual ambitions will pay dividends when it comes to Red Sky being a trusted supplier for the long-term”, added Ross Harper. “We’ve been delighted with the warm welcome that our commitment has received from broadcasters and we’re raring to go.”
