DRG appoints Dave Clarke as development and acquisitions consultant

Clarke will work alongside the existing DRG acquisitions team to bring in and develop more high-quality scripted content, from both current producer clients as well as new producer partners. In addition to driving new scripted business for DRG, the remit in his initial 12-month contract will also incorporate finding suitable projects for Atrium TV, the fledgling drama ‘commissioning club’, launched at MIPTV by DRG CEO Jeremy Fox and Sir Howard Stringer. 

Prior to his time at ITV Studios Global Entertainment, he was head of global format acquisitions at Shine Group and VP of strategic planning and format acquisitions at Cineflix, where he optioned the Norwegian hit comedy Dag from Nordic World, in partnership with Tony Wood’s Buccaneer. Clarke also held a number of positions within Virgin Media TV, rising to become controller of Bravo, Bravo 2, Challenge and Trouble channels.

DRG has recently made a number of new appointments and restructured for future growth, following a 25 per cent increase in turnover last year. A focus on building its drama business is key to the next stage of its ongoing development strategy, alongside existing plans in non-scripted.

Richard Halliwell, DRG’s managing director comments: 'Through all of the producers with which we currently work – both independent and within the NICE group – we already have a wonderful range of drama in our catalogue, much of which – such as Doc Martin and Eyewitness, has been successfully sold, as well as formatted and remade around the world. We are now looking to massively ramp up our drama business and are delighted that Dave can join our team. He has a terrific combination of commercial and creative acumen, knows how to spot a good story and make it great, and is very well respected within the industry. The fact that he has excellent format credentials is also very useful to our ambition'.

Dave Clarke: ‘DRG is going through really exciting times and there is a fantastic opportunity for me to build on the existing base and shape and grow it into a truly dynamic force in the scripted programming world. The business is keen to invest in great ideas and its launch of Atrium TV demonstrates that it is constantly looking for new opportunities and new ways of doing business. It is refreshing to be given a relatively clean sheet in such an established company and I can’t wait to get started and to begin reaching out to producers’.