COCO Content

What COCO Content does

COCO Content (legal name: COCO Content Ltd; formerly Coco Television) is an Irish independent television and media production company headquartered in Dublin with an additional office in London. Founded in 1984 by Paul Higgins (who served as founding director until his death in December 2021), the company was rebranded to COCO Content in 2017 and is led by CEO Linda Cullen. COCO produces a diversified slate spanning factual entertainment and home renovation formats (Room to Improve, Home Rescue, Desperate Houses, Dermot Bannon's Super Spaces/Incredible Homes), reality and dating series (First Dates Ireland, Don't Tell the Bride, Generation Dating, My Big Day, Whose Holiday Is It Anyway?), documentaries (The 34th, 1916: The Irish Rebellion, From that Small Island, Eliza Lynch: Queen of Paraguay), feature films (Traders), and chat shows (Pat Kenny in the Round). The core technology and capabilities are conventional television production — camera, sound, editing, on-location and studio production — with no disclosed software, AI, or platform technology components. The business model is a fee-for-service production house that develops original formats in-house, pitches to and secures commissioning deals primarily from RTÉ, and licenses finished content internationally through RTÉ Distribution and direct deals with Netflix, BBC, PBS, Sky, and HBO/Cinemax; supplementary revenue is generated via brand-funded programming (IKEA for Desperate Houses, Enterprise Ireland for Open for Business). Distribution reaches audiences in Ireland, the UK, the US, and Oceania, with peak domestic viewership of 703,000 for Room to Improve Season 10 in 2017.

Name

COCO Content

Legal name

COCO Content Ltd

Website

https://cococontent.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

COCO Content is a Dublin-based independent television production company founded in 1984, producing factual entertainment, reality, and documentary programming — including Room to Improve, First Dates Ireland, and The 34th — for broadcasters such as RTÉ, Netflix, BBC, and PBS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Television and Media Production

NAICS

Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Program Distribution to Stations & Affiliates (Domestic) (MPABAMAC)

Keywords

• Television production services
• Factual entertainment programming
• Documentary film production
• Reality TV formats
• Media content distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Broadcast Content Production: COCO produces original television content and sells/distributes to broadcasters (RTÉ, BBC, Netflix, etc.). Revenue comes from production deals, licensing, and international distribution.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

COCO Content is an Irish independent television and media production company that develops, produces, and distributes original TV programming including factual entertainment, reality formats, documentaries, and drama. The company creates in-house original formats and secures commissioning deals with broadcasters such as RTÉ, Virgin Media Television, BBC, Netflix, PBS, Sky, and HBO/Cinemax, with international sales handled through RTÉ Distribution.

Product overview

COCO Content is an Irish television and media production company creating diverse content across multiple genres. The company produces factual entertainment series (Room to Improve, Home Rescue, Desperate Houses), dating reality shows (First Dates Ireland), documentary films (The 34th, Traders, Eliza Lynch), and entertainment programming. Their portfolio includes architecture/home renovation series featuring Dermot Bannon, reality formats like Don't Tell the Bride, historical documentaries such as 1916: The Irish Rebellion and From that Small Island, and social content series covering fashion, business, and lifestyle topics for Irish and international broadcasters including RTÉ, Virgin Media, BBC, and Netflix.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Room to Improve Factual entertainment home renovation series in which architect Dermot Bannon transforms Irish houses through design and adaptation. Aired on RTÉ and won the IFTA Best Factual Programme award in 2018.
• First Dates Ireland Reality dating series set in a restaurant where singletons meet for a first date, hosted by maître d' Mateo Saina. Aired on RTÉ2.
• Home Rescue: The Big Fix Declutter and home makeover series that redesigns cluttered Irish homes, replacing chaos with order. Aired on RTÉ.
• Desperate Houses Declutter and home makeover show in which architect Róisín Murphy helps homeowners reclaim their homes over three days. Sponsored by IKEA Ireland and distributed internationally.
• Don't Tell the Bride Reality wedding planning series in which grooms take full control of planning with a €10,000 budget over three weeks. Aired on RTÉ2.
• The 34th Documentary following the campaign for Marriage Equality in Ireland, from the KAL case to the 2015 referendum. Won multiple international film festival awards and is available on Netflix in Ireland and the UK.
• Traders Dark thriller feature film about ordinary people who resort to deadly competition for money. Directed by Rachael Moriarty and Peter Murphy and co-produced with the Irish Film Board. Aired on BBC THREE and HBO/Cinemax.
• I'm Roger Casement Short dance film about Irish revolutionary Roger Casement, choreographed by Fearghus Ó Conchúir and directed by Dearbhla Walsh, shot on Banna Strand.
• 1916: The Irish Rebellion Three-part documentary series narrated by Liam Neeson examining the 1916 Easter Rising and the creation of an independent Irish state. Made in association with the University of Notre Dame's Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies.
• Dermot Bannon's Super Spaces Architectural series in which Dermot Bannon explores small, creative spaces in Ireland including renovations, container homes, and converted outhouses. Aired on RTÉ.
• Dermot Bannon's Celebrity Super Spaces Celebrity version of Super Spaces in which Dermot Bannon visits famous personalities' unique homes and spaces. Aired on RTÉ.
• Dermot Bannon's Incredible Homes Architectural travel series in which Dermot Bannon tours some of the most incredible homes and architectural delights from around the world. Aired on RTÉ.
• Eliza Lynch: Queen of Paraguay Historical documentary directed by Alan Gilsenan telling the story of Eliza Lynch, the most famous woman in 19th century South America.
• From that Small Island Four-part documentary series narrated by Colin Farrell telling the story of the Irish, produced by Briona Nic Dhiarmada. Won the Outstanding International Documentary Award at the Newport Beach International Film Festival and distributed via PBS and RTÉ Distribution.
• Pixie's Sex Clinic Three-part RTÉ2 series exploring sex and sexuality topics for 18-25 year olds in Ireland, hosted by Dr Pixie, featuring a travelling sex confessional, biology labs and comedy sketches.
• Pat Kenny in the Round Entertainment chat show hosted by Pat Kenny featuring Irish and international personalities, filmed before a studio audience of 150. Broadcast on UTV Ireland.
• Open for Business Six-part RTÉ business series helping Irish businesses and consumers navigate the post-COVID business landscape, sponsored by Enterprise Ireland.
• Generation Dating Virgin Media Television dating series pairing people from different generations to help each other find romantic matches.
• My Big Day Wedding planning series helping engaged couples decide whether to get married at home or abroad.
• Whose Holiday Is It Anyway? Original format reality entertainment series in which children take control of planning the family holiday, booking destinations and accommodation. Aired on RTÉ ONE.
• The Unemployables Original format where presenters Jennifer Maguire and Darren Kennedy help unemployed young people become employable through tasks, style makeovers, and mentoring. Aired on RTÉ2.
• Norah's Traveller Academy Original format in which entrepreneur Norah Casey mentors four women from the Traveller community in modern Irish business.
• Reality Bites Series of one-off documentaries for RTÉ2 covering diverse Irish life topics including sex (Like a Virgin), surrogacy (Gay Daddy), and bridal experiences (Bride to Be).
• #TRENDING Factual entertainment fashion and style series presented by Darren Kennedy covering fashion, pop culture, beauty, and celebrity trends for RTÉ2.
• Beyond The Yellow Brick Road RTÉ2 series featuring four mentors helping people at crossroads in their lives find direction and support.
• Panti Does 2015 St. Stephen's Day television special in which Panti Bliss reviews the highs and lows of the year 2015 in Ireland.

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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.

• NetflixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2017Streaming platform that distributes COCO Content productions internationally. The 34th documentary is available on Netflix in Ireland and the UK.
• RTÉcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary Irish broadcasting partner commissioning and airing COCO Content productions including Room to Improve, First Dates Ireland, Home Rescue, and documentary series. RTÉ Distribution handles international sales of COCO content.
• University of Notre DamemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for 1916: The Irish Rebellion documentary series. The Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies at University of Notre Dame was an initiative partner for the landmark three-part documentary.
• Irish Film Board (Fís na hÉireann)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational film funding body that co-produced Traders feature film with COCO Content.
• IKEA IrelandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Desperate Houses home makeover series, providing products and funding for the show.
• Enterprise IrelandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Open for Business COVID-19 business guidance series produced for RTÉ.
• RTÉ DistributioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational distribution arm handling global sales of COCO Content productions to broadcasters worldwide. Currently distributing From that Small Island series to international markets.
• SkyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK broadcaster partner for COCO Content productions.
• PBSminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS public broadcaster that has distributed From that Small Island series, reaching 95% of top APT/PBS stations in the US and broadcast on WORLD channel.
• BBCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK broadcaster that aired Traders feature film on BBC THREE during Christmas 2017.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ITV Studios: UK/global production and distribution arm producing entertainment, factual, and drama for ITV and international buyers. Comparable in broadcaster-integrated production operations and format sales.
• Fremantle: One of the largest global production groups behind formats such as Got Talent, Idol, and X Factor. Operates globally across factual, drama, and documentaries with overlaps in distributor relationships.
• All3Media: Global independent production and distribution group with deep UK and US factual/indie production operations. Comparable operating model at much larger scale across content genres.
• Banijay Group: World's largest international content producer and distributor owning Shine TV, Endemol Shine, and other independents. Comparable in format ownership, factual/reality production, and global IP distribution.

Direct peers

• Shine TV (Shine Group): Original UK producer of the First Dates format that COCO adapted as First Dates Ireland; Banijay-owned. Direct counterpart for reality/factual entertainment IP and global format licensing.
• Wall to Wall Media: UK indie producer of premium factual, documentary, and drama content (now part of Banijay). Comparable in producing heritage, factual, and documentary series for UK broadcasters with international distribution.
• Hat Trick Productions: UK independent production company behind chat and entertainment formats (Have I Got News For You, Outnumbered, Room 101). Comparable in producing premium UK/Irish entertainment formats with international sales potential.
• ShinAwiL: Long-established Irish independent production company co-producing flagship factual entertainment with COCO (notably Room to Improve). Direct operational peer producing premium factual and lifestyle programming for RTÉ and international buyers.
• Tyrone Productions: Ireland's largest independent production company behind Mrs Brown's Boys, Father Ted, and other major Irish entertainment IP. Broader Irish indie competitor with similar broadcaster relationships and export formats.
• Kite Entertainment: Irish independent production company producing entertainment formats including Dancing with the Stars Ireland and other RTÉ entertainment programming. Closely comparable in scale, genre mix, and broadcaster relationships to COCO.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/COCOcontentie
• Instagraminstagram.com/cococontent
• Facebookfacebook.com/cococontentie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bbc-rte-c4-five

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 COCO Content