Lion Television

Lion Television, also known as Lion TV, is a British television production company established in 1997 by former BBC documentary producers Richard Bradley, Nick Catliff and Jeremy Mills. The company developed around factual television and documentary production, making programming for British broadcasters including the BBC and Channel 4 and subsequently extending its work into scripted and non-scripted formats. Unlike a conventional broadcaster or channel brand, Lion Television is principally a producer and production label: its business is built around developing, financing, producing and delivering television projects for broadcasters and other commissioning platforms. The company expanded beyond its original British base during the early 2000s. In 2001 it partnered with James Burstall, formerly head of factual at September Films, to establish Leopard Television, a joint-venture production company operating from Lion's headquarters and using Lion's American infrastructure. In 2003 Lion opened a Los Angeles production office, led by Ciara Byrne, to strengthen its production-services and development activity in the United States. Later that year it entered an Asian production arrangement with Phoenix Television, establishing a Beijing office and pursuing co-produced programming from China. Lion was acquired by All3Media in 2004. The transaction broadened All3Media's presence in American and Chinese production activity while allowing Lion's co-founders Richard Bradley and Jeremy Mills to continue leading the company. The acquisition also brought Lion's Scottish operation and overseas offices into the expanding All3Media production group. Lion therefore became part of a larger multi-label production business while retaining its own creative identity and factual-specialist heritage. In 2019, All3Media reorganised its London production interests by bringing Lion Television's London operation together with Lime Pictures' London office. Richard Bradley and Nick Catliff moved into senior creative roles at Lime Pictures' London operation, while Lion continued as a label. This arrangement reflected a wider industry trend in which established production names remain visible to commissioners and audiences while sharing corporate infrastructure, management and production resources. Following Banijay's acquisition of All3Media, Lion Television became part of Banijay UK. The label remains associated with factual, documentary and broader non-scripted television production, with operations connected to London, Glasgow and Los Angeles. Its history combines independent production, international expansion, joint ventures and integration into successive global production groups. The company's present identity is best understood as a Banijay-owned British production label rather than as an independent television network.

Lion Television was founded in 1997 by Richard Bradley, Nick Catliff and Jeremy Mills, three former BBC documentary producers. Its initial identity was shaped by factual television and documentary production, with the company supplying programmes to major British broadcasters including the BBC and Channel 4. From the outset, Lion operated as an independent production company rather than a television channel, developing projects for commissioning broadcasters and building expertise in factual and non-scripted programming. The business began internationalising in 2001. In July of that year, Lion partnered with James Burstall, a former head of factual at September Films, to create Leopard Television. The joint venture was based at Lion's headquarters and used Lion's American offices, with Burstall becoming its president and chief executive. The arrangement expanded Lion's development capacity and created a related vehicle for further production activity. In June 2003, Lion opened a Los Angeles production office. Ciara Byrne, formerly associated with the company's New York office, was appointed to lead the new operation as executive director. The move gave Lion a stronger base for American production services and development. In November 2003, Lion also entered the Asian production-services market through a joint venture with Phoenix Television. The resulting Beijing operation was intended to develop and produce programming in cooperation with the Chinese television network. All3Media entered exclusive acquisition discussions with Lion in June 2004 and subsequently confirmed the purchase. The transaction included Lion's Scottish production division, American offices in Los Angeles and Miami, and the Beijing operation established with Phoenix Television. It represented an important expansion of All3Media's international production presence. Lion co-founders Jeremy Mills and Richard Bradley remained involved after the acquisition, preserving continuity while the company became part of a larger production group. A further organisational change took place in September 2019. All3Media brought Lion's London-based production operation together with the London office of Lime Pictures, a drama producer acquired by All3Media in 2006. Lion's London offices were merged into Lime's London operation, and Richard Bradley and Nick Catliff joined that office as chief creative officers. Lion continued to operate as a recognisable production label even as some of its personnel and infrastructure were integrated into another All3Media company. The ownership landscape changed again when Banijay acquired All3Media, placing Lion Television within Banijay UK. The label's later structure retained links to London, Glasgow and Los Angeles and continued to associate Lion with factual, documentary, scripted and non-scripted production. In August 2025, Lion TV USA moved into All3Media's American production division as a creative and development studio while continuing as a standalone Lion label. Allison Corn left the American operation and Stan Hsue continued to lead it. Lion Television's development therefore illustrates the evolution of independent British production companies into internationally connected labels within large, multi-territory entertainment groups.

1. 2025Lion TV USA becomes an All3Media America creative and development studio

   The American arm moves into All3Media's American production division while retaining the Lion label.

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2. 2024Lion joins Banijay UK

   Banijay's acquisition of All3Media places Lion Television within Banijay UK's production portfolio.

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3. 2019London operation integrated with Lime Pictures

   Lion's London office is merged into Lime Pictures' London operation, while Lion remains a production label.

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4. 2004All3Media acquisition completed

   All3Media acquires Lion, including its Scottish business and associated American and Beijing operations.

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5. 2003Los Angeles office opens

   Lion expands its American production activity with a Los Angeles office led by Ciara Byrne.

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6. 2003Beijing production operation is established

   Lion and Phoenix Television create a Beijing joint venture for international production and co-production work.

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7. 2001Leopard Television joint venture launches

   Lion partners with James Burstall to establish Leopard Television, using Lion's headquarters and American infrastructure.

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8. 1997Lion Television is founded

   Former BBC documentary producers Richard Bradley, Nick Catliff and Jeremy Mills establish Lion Television as a British factual production company.

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A British producer and production label with roots in BBC documentary-making, focused on factual, documentary and non-scripted programming while also developing scripted and internationally oriented television projects.

• Factual television programmingFactual television1997

  Lion Television's core output has historically been factual television developed for broadcasters such as the BBC and Channel 4. This area includes documentary-led programming and other reality-based or information-focused formats. The company is known primarily for its production and development capabilities rather than for distributing a consumer product under a single retail brand.

• Documentary programmingDocumentary1997

  Documentaries are central to Lion's heritage, reflecting the backgrounds of its founders as BBC documentary producers. The company has produced and developed documentary projects for British and international television, combining editorial storytelling with the production infrastructure of a larger international group.

• Scripted and non-scripted televisionTelevision production

  In addition to factual work, Lion Television has produced scripted and non-scripted programming. These activities broaden the label beyond documentary production and allow it to participate in different commissioning categories across British and international television markets.

• International production services and co-productionsInternational production2003

  Lion has supported international production through offices and partnerships in the United States and China. Its Los Angeles operation and Beijing joint venture with Phoenix Television were established to provide production capacity, development expertise and co-production opportunities outside the United Kingdom.

• 2025Move Lion TV USA into All3Media's American production divisionStrategy

  The American operation was reorganised within All3Media's broader United States production structure.

  What changed. Lion TV USA became a creative and development studio within All3Media's American division while continuing to operate as a standalone Lion label.

  Aftermath. Allison Corn departed as chief executive and Stan Hsue continued leading the American creative and development operation.

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• 2019Integrate Lion's London office with Lime PicturesStrategy

  All3Media reorganised its London production operations and sought closer integration between its production labels.

  What changed. Lion's London office was merged into Lime Pictures' London operation, with Richard Bradley and Nick Catliff taking chief creative officer roles there.

  Aftermath. Lion continued as a label while sharing London infrastructure and operating within Lime Pictures' office.

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• 2004Sell Lion Television to All3MediaM&A

  All3Media wanted to expand its production group into American and Chinese activity and entered exclusive discussions with Lion.

  What changed. All3Media acquired Lion, its Scottish division and associated offices and joint-venture operations.

  Aftermath. Lion became part of All3Media while its co-founders Richard Bradley and Jeremy Mills continued leading the company for a period after the transaction.

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• 2003Expand into Los Angeles and BeijingStrategy

  Lion was developing production activity beyond the United Kingdom and sought stronger access to American and Asian markets.

  What changed. The company opened a Los Angeles office and formed a Beijing production joint venture with Phoenix Television.

  Aftermath. Lion gained operating links in the United States and China before becoming part of All3Media.

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• 2001Create Leopard Television with James BurstallStrategy

  Lion sought to extend its production and development capability through a partnership with James Burstall, a former factual executive at September Films.

  What changed. It established Leopard Television as a joint venture based at Lion's headquarters and supported by Lion's American offices.

  Aftermath. The arrangement created an affiliated production vehicle and strengthened Lion's international operating model.

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• 2025Lion TV USA moves into All3Media's American production division

  Lion TV USA moved into All3Media's American production division as a creative and development studio while continuing to operate as a Lion label. Allison Corn departed as chief executive and Stan Hsue continued leading the American operation.

  Leadership change
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• 2024Lion Television becomes part of Banijay UK following Banijay's acquisition of All3Media

  The acquisition of All3Media by Banijay placed Lion Television within Banijay's United Kingdom production structure.

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• 2019Lion Television London operation integrated with Lime Pictures

  All3Media reorganised its London production operations by combining Lion Television's London office with Lime Pictures' London operation. Lion continued as a label within the reorganised structure.

  Leadership change
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• 2004All3Media acquires Lion Television

  All3Media acquired Lion Television, its Scottish division and associated American and Beijing production operations, bringing the company into a larger international production group.

  M&A
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• 2003Lion Television opens Los Angeles production office

  The company expanded its American production-services activity by opening a Los Angeles office led by former New York office head Ciara Byrne.

  Other
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• 2003Lion Television forms Beijing production partnership with Phoenix Television

  Lion and Phoenix Television agreed to establish a Beijing production operation and pursue co-produced programming, extending Lion's international footprint into Asia.

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• 2001Lion Television establishes Leopard Television joint venture

  Lion Television partnered with James Burstall to launch Leopard Television, a related production company focused on developing television programming from Lion's existing British and American infrastructure.

  M&AOther
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1. Lion Television