Sky Studios launches The Hive - a new production services hub in the US

Sky Studios, the commissioning and production arm of Sky, today announce the formation of a ground-breaking production services hub, The Hive Collective (The Hive), based in the US and working in collaboration with Sky Studios’ production expertise in Europe.

The Hive, initially based in  in New York and Knoxville, Tennessee, will provide best-in-class and fully integrated pre-production, production and post production services for the industry, including a range of forthcoming Sky Studios productions. Serving as a one-stop shop, The Hive will give producers access to over 250 creative professionals specialising in everything from casting, gear, wardrobe and set design to transcription, media management, staffing, human resources, finance, offline editing, graphics and final delivery.  

 In launching The Hive, Sky Studios has leveraged the expertise of Sky-owned Jupiter Entertainment, creator of long-running reality crime hit Snapped, and has appointed veteran Jupiter Entertainment executive Robert Twilley as President. In his new role, Twilley will oversee all facets of The Hive’s operation including legal, financial and production operations.  Previously, Twilley served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Jupiter Entertainment. 

The Hive is already in discussions with several producers and production companies to bring projects to the new production facilities this year.

“Launching The Hive is the next step in our ambition to make Sky Studios a world-leading creative and production force and home to the industry’s best talent. We already have over 50 shows in production across Europe and the agile approach of The Hive will help us, and other producers, get great ideas and unique stories in to production quicker. Under Robert’s leadership, The Hive will quickly become a vital resource for the industry with ambitious plans for expansion.” said Jane Millichip, Chief Commercial Officer of Sky Studios.

“The Hive offers the staff, the facilities and a passion for high quality production,” said Robert Twilley, President of The Hive Collective.  “Our aim is to help make any producer’s vision a reality.  In today’s competitive marketplace, it’s crucial to balance cost-effective solutions with a first-in-class operation. The Hive provides producers the opportunity to put more money on screen, maintain their identity and grow their brand.”

Media Contacts

Sky: Harrison Kelly, Harrison.Kelly@sky.uk

Jupiter: Brooke Fisher, brooke@brookefisherpr.com

Notes to Editors 

• Image of Robert Twilley: https://we.tl/t-Qdyi398Bja 
  
• Throughout his long career with Jupiter Entertainment, Robert Twilley has helped build the company to over 50,000 square feet of office and production space, created a post-production facility with over 50 edit bays and managed production and business across  75 series and specials for 30 networks, including 500 episodes of the genre-defining true crime hit Snapped, the record-breaking ID Murder Mystery (ID), the long running Homicide Hunter (ID) as well as docusoaps like Welcome to Myrtle Manor (TLC) and Wild West Alaska (Animal Planet).  In the last decade, he has helped triple the company’s revenue and in 2015 he played a central role of the company’s sale to Sky. 

About Sky Studios

Sky Studios brings to screen unique stories from the very best talent in Europe.

We develop, produce and fund original drama, comedy and documentary for Sky’s 24m customers and beyond. Building on the success of critically-acclaimed Sky originals including Emmy-nominated Chernobyl, Bafta-winning Patrick Melrose and international hits Babylon Berlin and Riviera, Sky Studios is the new creative home of Sky originals, such as The Third Day with Jude Law, ZeroZeroZero from the makers of Gomorrah and The New Pope directed by Academy Award-winning director Paolo Sorrentino.

We’re an agile Studio, seeking out the best untold stories from new voices while working in creative partnership with today’s best writers, producers and on-screen talent to bring viewers stories they wouldn’t find anywhere else.

With commissioning talent and production capability across the UK, Germany and Italy, we understand local tastes across Europe better than anyone else and have plans to more than double our investment in original content by 2024, fully supported and backed by Comcast NBC Universal.

Sky Studios invests in the cultural economy and global production sector with equity stakes in 10 production companies in the UK and the US, including Great British Bake-Off creator Love Productions, and the premiere reality crime producer in the US, Jupiter Entertainment, creator of long-running hit Snapped.  Sky Studios has invested in high quality factual specialists Blast Films and True North Productions; entertainment and format expert Znak & Co (US & UK); natural history producer True to Nature; and growth businesses Sugar Films, Avanti Media, Chrysalis Vision, and Talos Films (US).

Sky Studios launched in June 2019. The senior leadership team is Chief Executive Officer Gary Davey, Chief Commercial Officer Jane Millichip, Chief Finance Officer Caroline Cooper, Director of Drama UK Cameron Roach, Director of Comedy UK Jon Mountague, Director Original Production Sky Italia Nils Hartmann, and Director Original Production Sky Deutschland Marcus Ammon.

About Jupiter Entertainment

With offices in New York and Knoxville, Jupiter Entertainment has built an unrivalled track record of producing successful, highly formatted series and delivering outstanding ratings and strong renewals.  Since its launch over two decades ago, the company has produced 75 series and specials for 30 networks. 

Among its many credits include the record-breaking hit American Murder Mystery (ID), long-running series Snapped (Oxygen) and Homicide Hunter(ID) as well as explosive docusoaps Welcome to Myrtle Manor (TLC) and Wild West Alaska (Animal Planet).  The company has also produced prime-time series and specials for A&E, Discovery, History, Investigation Discovery, Oxygen, Reelz, TLC, TruTV, TV One, Fuse, and Animal Planet among more.  In the last year alone, Jupiter produced 19 series, specials and pilots for 10 networks.