SMG Productions

Infobox Company
name = SMG Productions
company_
company_type = Public
foundation = 1957
(as Scottish Television Productions)
location = flagicon|SCO Glasgow, Scotland
flagicon|ENG London, England
key_people = Elizabeth Partyka
(Managing Director)
num_employees =
owner = STV Group plc
industry = Media
products = Television
revenue =
homepage = [http://www.smgproductions.tv www.smgproductions.tv]

SMG Productions is the network television production arm of the STV Group plc, and incorporates Ginger Productions. With bases in Glasgow, Scotland and London, England, its output includes drama, factual/factual entertainment, entertainment and children’s programming. With a client list that includes all the UK terrestrial networks as well as the major satellite and cable channels, the company is one of the key programme suppliers to the UK television market.

It is expected that the company will be rebranded as STV Productions, as it's parent company was renamed from SMG plc to STV Group plc in the summer of 2008.

SMG Productions are the makers of "Taggart", shown on the ITV Network, and sold to more than 40 territories. Now in its 24th year, "Taggart" is the UK's longest running TV crime drama. Other successes include adapting Ian Rankin's "Rebus" for television with John Hannah as the lead, and remaking the classic "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" starring Martin Clunes.

In 2005, ITV commissioned SMG to produce two brand new feature length episodes of "Rebus", based on the best-selling novels of Ian Rankin, with Ken Stott in the lead role. Following production, ITV commissioned a further four episodes before the first two had aired, which was a huge boost to the company.

SMG Productions Factual department has a long track record in award winning factual production with programmes like "After Lockerbie", "The Few", "The Charge of the Light Brigade" and "Magic at War". The department has also followed the medical practitioners and rescue services of the Highlands and Islands for the ITV observational documentary "Medics of the Glen" and recounted the painful stories of parents who have spent years seeking justice for their daughter's murders abroad – "Justice for My Daughter" (ITV). The department expanded into the area of factual entertainment with the production of "Club Reps", the successful long running series for the ITV Network.

This expansion was further enhanced by the acquisition of Ginger Media Group. The synergy with its "little brother" production company, Ginger Productions, has created an innovative hybrid department, Factual Entertainment. This has resulted in some of the most talked about TV programmes in recent years, including "Detox" and "Celebrity Detox" for Five and "Don't Drop the Coffin" for ITV. The series followed the day to day activities of a team of South London undertakers and was one of the most talked about programmes in 2003. Before ownership by SMG, Ginger Productions most notable shows were "Don't Forget Your Toothbrush" and "TFI Friday", both made for Channel 4 and presented and produced by Chris Evans.

Ginger Productions continued to build its reputation for strong entertainment programming in 2005 with action packed series and ratings winner "" for ITV2 and a one-off documentary with a revengeful twist, "Paul Zenon's Revenge Squad" for ITV.

The Children's Department is one of the biggest children's producers in the country covering children's drama, animation, factual and entertainment. It produces shows such as "How 2" and "Prove It!" for CITV, and has made "Cre-8", an art show for Discovery Kids. SMG also produced children's drama, "Uncle Dad", which was broadcast on CITV, early in 2006.

SMG Productions holds the rights to "Art Attack", but the show was produced (until recently [cite news
title = "Art Attack" axed after 18 years
publisher = Digital Spy
date = 13 July, 2007
url = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/programming/a65632/art-attack-axed-after-18-years.html
accessdate = 2007-07-06] ) by The Media Merchants. SMG, along with ITV Productions hold the rights to the British version of "This Is Your Life", which made a special come-back in June 2007.

References

External links

* [http://www.smgproductions.tv SMG Productions] (www.smgproductions.tv)