What Outline Productions Ltd. does

Outline Productions Ltd. is an independent UK television production company founded in 1999 in London by Laura Mansfield and Helen Veale. The company develops and produces factual entertainment series, documentaries, food and travel formats, and property/lifestyle programming for UK public service broadcasters (Channel 4, BBC, ITV, Sky) and international streamers (Discovery+, Food Network, HGTV). Its catalogue includes multi-season properties such as Remarkable Places To Eat, Sarah Beeny's New Life in the Country, Sarah Beeny's Renovate Don't Relocate, Michel Roux's French Country Cooking and Michel Roux's Provence Masterclass, plus authored documentary work such as Sarah Beeny vs Cancer.

The business model is commission-driven and professional services in nature: Outline pitches concepts to broadcasters, secures commissions, produces the content, and monetises through production fees, format licensing and international distribution rights. Distribution outside the UK is handled through major partners including Hat Trick International, All3Media and Discovery Networks International. The company operates as part of the Tin Roof Media group, co-locates with sister company Blink Films in Haggerston, London, and maintains a Wales base in Chepstow.

The company is BAFTA-nominated and was named a Broadcast Best Place to Work in TV in 2023. Leadership transitioned in 2023 when Justine Kershaw and Dan Chambers, co-founders of Blink Films, took over as Creative Directors; the company is currently led by an Executive Chairman (Rod Henwood), the two Creative Directors, a Group Director of Operations (Ulla Streib), a Group Finance Director (Matt Fleming) and a Head of Rights Management & Distribution (Alice Bennett-Leyh). Revenue, headcount and financial details are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Outline Productions Ltd.

Legal name

Outline Productions Ltd.

Website

https://outlineproductions.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Outline Productions Ltd. is an independent UK TV production company that develops and produces factual entertainment, food, property, travel and documentary series for UK broadcasters (Channel 4, BBC, ITV, Sky) and international streamers (Discovery+, Food Network, HGTV). It operates within the Tin Roof Media group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Television Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Scripted TV Series Production (Live-Action) (MPADABAB)

Keywords

• Factual television production
• Independent TV production
• Format licensing
• Documentary production
• Broadcast content commissioning

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. TV Production and Commissioning: Outline Productions generates revenue by producing TV content for broadcasters. The company develops original programmes and formats that are commissioned by UK and international TV channels and streaming platforms. Revenue comes from production fees, format licensing, and international distribution rights.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Outline Productions is an independent UK television production company that develops and produces factual entertainment series, documentaries, and reality formats for UK and international broadcasters. The company creates, commissions, and produces programmes across genres including food, travel, property, parenting, and social history, selling completed content and format rights to broadcasters and streaming platforms.

Product overview

Outline Productions Ltd. is an independent UK TV production company that creates factual entertainment series and formats for British and international markets. Founded in 1999 by Laura Mansfield and Helen Veale, the company produces a portfolio of television programmes including property/lifestyle series (Sarah Beeny's New Life in the Country, Sarah Beeny's Renovate Don't Relocate), food and travel series (Remarkable Places To Eat, Michel Roux's Provence Masterclass), documentary programming (Sarah Beeny vs Cancer), and daytime factual formats (Sarah Beeny's New Country Lives). The company operates as part of the Tin Roof Media group and collaborates with sister company Blink Films. Productions are distributed to major UK broadcasters including Channel 4, BBC, and Discovery+ through distributors such as All3Media and Hat Trick.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Remarkable Places To Eat Food and travel series where respected chefs and foodies reveal their favourite dining destinations worldwide, from family-run trattorias to cutting-edge restaurants. Broadcast on Channel 4.
• Sarah Beeny's New Life in the Country Property and lifestyle series following Sarah Beeny and her family as they renovate a property in the Somerset countryside and embrace rural living. Broadcast on Channel 4.
• Sarah Beeny vs Cancer Personal documentary where property expert Sarah Beeny explores breast cancer treatment, filmed during her own journey with the disease. Broadcast on Channel 4.
• Sarah Beeny's New Country Lives Daytime factual entertainment series following newcomers to countryside life through property renovations, business startups, and rural lifestyle transitions. Broadcast on Channel 4.
• Michel Roux's Provence Masterclass Culinary series featuring Michel Roux sharing cooking secrets inspired by his Michelin-starred restaurant and Provencal cuisine, with visits to top local chefs. Broadcast on Food Network and Discovery+.
• Michel Roux's French Country Cooking Cooking series showcasing French country cuisine techniques and recipes. Broadcast on Food Network and Discovery+.
• Sarah Beeny's Renovate Don't Relocate Home renovation series helping families transform their existing properties rather than moving. Broadcast on HGTV and Discovery+.
• Rochelle Humes: Interior Designer in the Making Interior design series on W Channel following Rochelle Humes as she learns interior design skills.
• A Taste of Christmas with Andi Oliver Christmas food special for BBC2 featuring chef Andi Oliver.

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Tin Roof MediacoreOthersOutline Productions is part of the Tin Roof Media group, which provides corporate infrastructure and support. This parent company relationship gives Outline access to shared resources and a broader media production network.
• Blink FilmscoreOthersBlink Films is a sister company co-founded by current Outline leaders Justine Kershaw and Dan Chambers. The companies share office space in London and collaborate on productions and industry presence.
• Hat TrickmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHat Trick International is a major distribution partner for Outline Productions, handling international distribution of shows including Sarah Beeny's New Country Lives and Sarah Beeny vs Cancer.
• All3MediamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAll3Media handles international distribution for Remarkable Places to Eat, enabling global reach for this popular food travel series.
• Discovery Networks InternationalmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDiscovery Networks International distributes Michel Roux cooking series internationally through Food Network and Discovery+ platforms across multiple territories.
• Channel 4 Trainee SchememinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutline partners with Channel 4's trainee scheme as part of their diversity and inclusivity commitments, offering training opportunities to underrepresented groups in the TV industry.
• Creative AccessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide training and career opportunities in television for individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds who may not typically have access to the industry.
• PACTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutline is a member of PACT, the UK trade association for independent production companies, supporting the broader independent TV production sector.
• Mama YouthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing training opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds interested in careers in television production.
• RiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Rise, an organisation supporting gender diversity in the broadcast industry, as part of Outline's commitment to inclusivity.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Blink Films: Independent UK factual and documentary production company co-founded by current Outline Creative Directors Justine Kershaw and Dan Chambers. Shares London office space and operates under the same Tin Roof Media parent group, with comparable factual-formats output and broadcaster relationships.
• Tiger Aspect Productions: Leading UK independent factual entertainment producer (Mr Bean, Gordon Ramsay) owned by Banijay/Endemol Shine. Comparable factual-entertainment slate, similar UK broadcaster customer mix, and similar size band — a direct competitor for Channel 4 and BBC factual commissions.
• Love Productions: UK independent producer behind The Great British Bake Off and other prestige factual entertainment formats. Closely comparable in scale, genre focus (food/lifestyle), and commissioning profile with Channel 4 and BBC.
• Studio Lambert: Independent UK production company known for Gogglebox, The Circle, and Race Across the World. Comparable factual entertainment and reality format output, similar broadcaster customer base, and similar headcount scale.
• Twofour: UK independent factual entertainment and reality producer (The Jump, Gogglebox co-production), now part of ITV Studios. Directly competes with Outline for factual entertainment commissions across ITV, Channel 4, and BBC.
• Hat Trick Productions: UK independent comedy and factual entertainment producer behind Derry Girls and Outnumbered. Comparable in scale and indie status, and notably also Outline's international distribution partner through Hat Trick International, providing a partial distribution peer overlap.
• Curve Media: UK independent factual and lifestyle production company with strong food and travel portfolio. Direct competitor in the food-and-travel factual genre that is a core of Outline's catalogue, pitching into the same Channel 4 and Discovery commissioning slots.
• Keo Films: UK independent production company working across factual entertainment and documentary (Earth, Hugh's Wild West). Similar size and indie positioning, with overlapping factual broadcaster relationships.

Broad incumbents

• All3Media: Major UK-based super-indie production group producing across factual entertainment, drama, and entertainment. Serves as Outline's international distribution partner for Remarkable Places to Eat while also being a competitor in the broader UK factual commissions market.
• ITV Studios: In-house production and international distribution arm of ITV plc, producing across all genres including factual entertainment. Acquiring super-indies (Twofour, Mammoth Screen) that directly compete with Outline for UK broadcaster commissions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/outline_productions
• Xx.com/outline_tv
• Facebookfacebook.com/OutlineTelevision
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/outline-productions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Outline Productions Ltd.