{{Short description|British television production company}} {{Infobox company | name = RDF Television | logo = RDF Television logo.png | founded = {{Start date and age|1993}} | founder = {{Plainlist| * David Frank * Matthew Frank }} | defunct = {{End date and age|2024|2|2}} | parent = {{Plainlist| * [[Zodiak Media]] (2011–2016) * [[Banijay Entertainment]] (2016–2024) }} | divisions = RDF West }}
'''RDF Television''' was a British independent television production company that was owned by French production & distribution group [[Zodiak Media]] since 2010 before being merged with [[Banijay Group]] in 2016. It was founded in 1993 by David Frank after stepping down as a reporter at the [[BBC]]. The name ceased in 2024.
==History== RDF Television was founded in 1993 by David Frank after stepping down as a reporter at the [[BBC]].<ref>{{cite news|title=INDIE FINANCE – Building RDF into a TV money-spinner|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/indie-finance-building-rdf-into-a-tv-money-spinner/1175382.article|work=Broadcast|date=18 May 2001}}</ref>
A year later in 1994 following RDF Television's establishment, RDF Television launched its own distribution division called RDF Rights with David Frank's brother Matthew Frank joining RDF Television's distribution arm as its CEO.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kemp|first=Stuart|title=Zodiak Rights Hires Steve Macallister as CEO|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/zodiak-rights-hires-steve-macallister-669826|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=10 January 2014}}</ref>
===Expansion into other genres (2005–2008)=== In October 2005, RDF Television's parent company RDF Media Group was in exclusive talks to acquire Glasgow-based Scottish independent production company and co-production partner behind ''Location, Location, Location'' named IWC Media in order for RDF to expand their regional production outputs. The deal would could expand RDF's factual production activities as their parent RDF Media Group previously had a partnership with the Scottish production company with RDF's distribution division RDF Rights distributed IWC's factual programming internationally before the announcement to acquire IWC.<ref>{{cite web|title=RDF confirms IWC acquisition talks|url=https://www.c21media.net/news/rdf-confirms-iwc-acquisition-talks/|website=C21Media|first=Ed|last=Waller|date=October 10, 2005}}</ref> Two months later in December of that same year, RDF Media Group completed their acquisition of Glasgow-based Scottish independent production company IWC Media with Alan Clements remained CEO and president of the acquired company<ref>{{cite web|title=RDF pays £14m for Location Location Location indie IWC|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/rdf-pays-14m-location-location-location-indie-iwc/530769?src_site=brandrepublic|website=Campaign|first=Sam|last=Matthews|date=December 1, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Wark makes £1m from IWC sale|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/dec/02/independentproductioncompanies.bbc|website=The Guardian|date=December 2, 2005}}</ref>
In April 2006, RDF Media Group had brought rival Cardiff-based Welsh poker television production company Presentable, giving RDF Media Group their own Welsh television production subsidiary and an entry into the Welsh production business.<ref>{{cite web|title= RDF spends £6m on looking Presentable|url=https://www.c21media.net/news/rdf-spends-%C2%A36m-on-looking-presentable/|website=C21Media|date=April 3, 2006|access-date=May 30, 2024}}</ref>
In August 2006, RDF Television under their parent company RDF Media Group announced that they had acquired Kent-based children's television producer The Foundation.<ref>{{cite web|title=RDF buys TV producer Foundation|url=https://variety.com/2006/tv/news/rdf-buys-tv-producer-foundation-1200342581/|website=Variety|date=August 3, 2006|access-date=May 30, 2024}}</ref>
In October 2006, RDF Media Group launched a digital arm named RDF Digital Media.<ref>{{cite web|title=RDF unveils digital arm, scores US commissions|url=https://www.c21media.net/news/rdf-unveils-digital-arm-scores-us-commissions/|website=C21Media|first=Jules|last=Grant|date=October 19, 2006|access-date=October 19, 2024}}</ref>
In February 2008, RDF Media Group acquired factual independent producer History Television International as their expansion of its factual operations.<ref>{{cite web|title=RDF buys History Television|url=https://variety.com/2008/scene/markets-festivals/rdf-buys-history-television-1117980001/|website=Variety|date=February 1, 2008|access-date=September 17, 2024}}</ref>
===Acquisitions, restructuring and shut down (2010–2024)=== In June 2010, RDF Television alongside its parent RDF Media Group had been bought by Swedish/French entertainment production and distribution group [[Zodiak Entertainment]], bringing together RDF Media Group's operations with Zodiak Entertainment's operations; RDF Media Group's CEO and founder and [[David Frank (media executive)|David Frank]] became the new CEO of the enlarged Zodiak Entertainment group along with chairman and CEO of both De Agostini Group and Zodiak Entertainment. Lorenzo Pellicioli continued to serve as chairman of the combined group.<ref>{{cite web|title=Zodiak Acquires RDF To Create Indie Giant|url=https://deadline.com/2010/06/zodiak-acquires-rdf-to-create-indie-giant-44721/|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=June 2, 2010|access-date=September 17, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Zodiak Entertainment acquires RDF Media Group, appoints CEO|url=https://kidscreen.com/2010/06/02/zodiak-20100602/|website=Kidscreen|first=Wendy|last=Goldman Getzler|date=June 2, 2010|access-date=May 17, 2024}}</ref>
Three months later in September of 2010, Zodiak Entertainment announced that they were rebranding themselves by renaming it to Zodiak Media Group following Zodiak's acquisition of British independent production company RDF Media Group, with RDF's international division RDF Rights being folded into Zodiak International Distribution and renamed to Zodiak Rights.
In November 2021, RDF Television restructured its operations by appointing founders of Banijay's fellow production subsidiary Definitely Rachel Arnold and Jon Green as RDF's respectively creative director and creative director of development with RDF taking over Banijay's fellow production subsidiary Definitely from Zepptron as a subsidiary of RDF Television with its founders continued leading the company under RDF whilst Little Wonder was spun off from Banijay's factual production unit Wonder and became RDF Television's subsidiary as founder Claire Morrison continued leading Little Wonder under RDF Television.<ref>{{cite web|title=Banijay UK-owned RDF brings in Definitely co-founders as creative directors|url=https://www.c21media.net/news/banijay-uk-owned-rdf-brings-in-definitely-co-founders-as-creative-directors/|website=C21Media|first=Nico|last=Franks|date=November 30, 2021}}</ref>
In July 2023, [[Banijay Entertainment]] announced the merger of RDF Television with Banijay's fellow British factual production subsidiary Remarkable Factual, whilst retaining the RDF brand with Kitty Walshe stepping down of the CEO of both factual producers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kitty Walshe Exiting Banijay Labels RDF & Remarkable Factual After Eight Years|url=https://deadline.com/2023/07/banijay-label-your-home-made-perfect-rdf-remarkable-factual-kitty-walshe-leaving-1235439470/|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Max|last=Goldbert|date=July 17, 2023}}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Title ! Years ! Network ! Notes |- | ''[[The Crystal Maze]]'' || 1990–2020 || [[Channel 4]]/[[E4 (TV channel)|E4]] || inherited from Chartsworth Television<br>under RDF West<br>co-production with Fizz |- | ''[[The Block (British TV series)|The Block]]'' || 2004 || rowspan="2" | [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] |- | ''[[Ladette to Lady]]'' || 2005–2010 || |- | ''[[Anthea Turner: Perfect Housewife]]'' || 2006–2007 || [[BBC Three]] |- | ''Dementia & Us'' || rowspan="2" | 2021 || [[BBC Two]] || co-production with Wonder |- | ''Shop Well for the Planet?'' || [[BBC One]] || as RDF West |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Banijay}} [[Category:Banijay]] [[Category:Television production companies of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Mass media companies established in 1993]] [[Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 2024]] [[Category:2010 mergers and acquisitions]]