What Prospero Productions does

Prospero Productions Pty Ltd is a Western Australian independent television production company founded in 1991 and now solely owned and led by Managing Director Julia Redwood. The company produces returnable, narrative-driven factual series — observational outback documentaries (Outback Truckers, Outback Opal Hunters, Outback Crystal Hunters, West Coast Cops, Brit Cops Down Under, Hunting Outback Gold, Rookie Truckers, Outback Pilots), natural-history blue-chip programming (Australia: Life on the Edge, Ningaloo: Australia's Other Great Reef, Whale Super Highway, Star Dreaming, Wild Survivor), and observational medical/crime documentaries (Children's Hospital, Junior Doctors Down Under, Vet School, Every Family's Nightmare, Jack the Ripper: Australia's Killer) — for major Australian broadcasters (Channel 7, Channel 9, ABC, SBS) and international partners (Discovery, National Geographic, UKTV). Core production technology is conventional broadcast post-production: AVID Media Composer and DaVinci Resolve editing systems, shared NAS/RAID media storage, and standardized transcoding/conforming/archiving workflows run by an in-house post-production team under a Head of Post Production.

Revenue is generated primarily through broadcaster commissions (one-time license/commission model) for series production, supplemented by international distribution rights sold via established sales agents (DCD Rights, Sphere Abacus, Bossa Nova Media, Abacus Media Rights, DRG, BBC Worldwide, All 3Media) and by Australian screen-industry funding from Screenwest, Lotterywest, Screen Australia, and the WA Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. The associated entity Touchstone Hire supplies in-house equipment and editing-suite infrastructure. The go-to-market motion is sales-led: development producers pitch factual series concepts directly to broadcaster commissioning editors, supported by an Ireland-based Executive Producer for Business and Legal Affairs handling international deal-making. The active production slate has expanded into 2025 with new domestic and UK commissions, and the company most recently achieved a record of running five series simultaneously across 55 broadcast hours.

Name

Prospero Productions

Legal name

Prospero Productions Pty Ltd

Website

https://prospero.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Prospero Productions is a Western Australian independent television production company founded in 1991 that produces returnable narrative-driven factual series for Australian broadcasters (Channel 7, Channel 9, ABC, SBS) and international partners (Discovery, National Geographic, UKTV).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Television Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Unscripted/Reality TV Production (Live-Action) (MPADABAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Docuseries & Episodic Nonfiction (TV/Streaming) (MPADADAB)

Keywords

• Factual television production
• Documentary series production
• Broadcast content commissioning
• Observational documentary production
• Television production services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fremantle

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Television Production Commissions: Production of factual entertainment series commissioned by broadcasters including Channel 7, Channel 9, ABC, SBS, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and international partners like UKTV. Revenue generated through production budgets and licensing fees.
2. Government Funding and Grants: Support from Screenwest, Lotterywest, Screen Australia, and Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries through documentary funds and workforce capacity programs. Companies have received up to $50,000 through specific funding programs.
3. International Distribution: International sales and distribution of productions through partners including DCD Rights, Abacus Media Rights, Sphere Abacus, Bossa Nova Media, DRG, BBC Worldwide, and All 3Media.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Prospero Productions is an independent television production company that develops and produces factual entertainment and documentary series for Australian and international broadcasters. The company commissions narrative-driven observational documentaries across genres including outback adventure, wildlife/natural history, true crime, science, and lifestyle/reality, supplying finished program content to networks such as Channel 7, Channel 9, ABC, SBS, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and UKTV.

Product overview

Prospero Productions is one of Australia's leading independent television production companies, producing quality multi-award-winning factual programs and documentary series for over 30 years. The company's portfolio includes multiple flagship observational documentary series spanning genres such as outback adventure (Outback Truckers, Outback Opal Hunters, Outback Crystal Hunters), wildlife and natural history (Aussie Animal Rescue, Ningaloo: Australia's Other Great Reef, Whale Super Highway), true crime (Every Family's Nightmare, Jack the Ripper: Australia's Killer, Outback Terror: The Falconio Murder), science and history (Heartbreak Science, Death of the Megabeasts, Gallipoli's Deep Secrets), and lifestyle/reality (Junior Doctors Down Under, Children's Hospital, Vet School). The company also produces immersive dome experiences (Star Dreaming, Ningaloo, Whale Super Highway) and travel documentaries (Martin Clunes: Islands of Australia). The productions are distributed to major Australian and international broadcasters including Channel 7, Channel 9, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, SBS, ABC, and UKTV.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Outback Truckers Observational documentary series following truck drivers navigating the challenging Australian outback, delivering cargo across remote and extreme terrain. Multiple seasons produced and distributed to Channel 7, 7mate, Discovery Channel and other international broadcasters.
• Outback Opal Hunters Documentary series following opal miners in the Australian outback seeking precious opal gems. Multiple seasons produced and distributed to Discovery Channel and other international broadcasters.
• Outback Crystal Hunters Reality series following crystal hunting teams in the Australian outback searching for rare and valuable crystals and gemstones. Produced for Channel 7 and distributed internationally via Sphere Abacus.
• West Coast Cops Observational documentary series following British police officers who relocate to Western Australia to join the WA Police Force. Commissioned by Channel 9 and aired on 9Now streaming service, with UKTV's U&W as international partner.
• Brit Cops Down Under Documentary series commissioned by UKTV following British police officers working in Australia. Aired on U&W channel and available on UKTV's free streaming service U.
• Hunting Outback Gold Documentary series following a team searching for legendary gold fortune inspired by gold prospector Harrold Lasseter. Produced for Channel 9 and UKTV's U&Yesterday with international sales by Bossa Nova Media.
• The Legend of Outback Gold Documentary series commissioned by UKTV for U&Yesterday channel, exploring outback gold legends.
• Rookie Truckers New documentary series following rookie drivers mentored by veteran truck drivers including Steve Grahame. Currently in development.
• Martin Clunes: Islands of Australia Travel documentary series featuring actor Martin Clunes exploring islands of Australia. Internationally renowned title distributed to major broadcasters globally.
• Junior Doctors Down Under Documentary series following junior doctors from the UK and Ireland working in Australian hospital emergency departments. Commissioned by SBS.
• Children's Hospital Documentary series following doctors and nurses at Perth's children's hospitals caring for children from across Western Australia. Commissioned by ABC.
• Australia: Life on the Edge Natural history documentary series exploring the coastline and marine life of Australia. Distributed to National Geographic and other major broadcasters.
• Vet School Documentary series following veterinary students at Murdoch University in Perth through their final years of training.
• Outback Pilots Documentary series following pilots working in the Australian outback, including rescue, fire control, and medical transport operations.
• Railroad Australia Documentary series exploring Australia's railroads and the train crews who operate heavy haul freight and passenger trains.
• Wild Survivor Documentary series following science teacher Phil Breslin surviving in the Kimberley coastline using traditional indigenous techniques. Distributed to National Geographic.
• Only in Oz Adventure series following young Australians discovering unique aspects of Australian experience, history, science and society. Distributed to National Geographic.
• Opal Hunters: Red Dirt Road Trip Documentary series following rookie opal miner James Caruana and veteran Rod Manning on cross-country road trips hunting opals. Season 2 aired in 2024.
• Every Family's Nightmare True crime documentary series about a family fighting for justice after their teenage son was wrongly accused of rape.
• Jack the Ripper: Australia's Killer Documentary investigating whether an Australian could be responsible for the Jack the Ripper murders using modern DNA science.
• Aussie Animal Rescue Observational series following wildlife rescuers at Kanyana Wildlife Rescue Centre near Perth, documenting the rescue and rehabilitation of Australian wildlife.
• Ningaloo: Australia's Other Great Reef Full dome immersive natural history documentary about Western Australia's Ningaloo Reef and marine life.
• Whale Super Highway Full dome immersive documentary following humpback and blue whales on their migration along Western Australia's coast.
• Star Dreaming Immersive 360 feature documentary taking children on a journey exploring the universe via the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope and Aboriginal culture.
• Shipwreck Psycho Documentary series investigating a 400-year-old shipwreck and the murder, mayhem and madness that occurred among castaways.
• The Man Who Jumped Documentary revisiting the 2002 Woomera detention centre protests and the asylum seeker who jumped from the perimeter fence.
• Gallipoli's Deep Secrets Documentary with Titanic discoverer Robert Ballard exploring shipwrecks from the Gallipoli campaign beneath the Dardanelles.
• Heartbreak Science Documentary exploring heart mysteries including whether people can die from a broken heart and heart transplant memories.
• Death of the Megabeasts Documentary investigating the extinction of Australia's megafauna including giant wombats, kangaroos, and lizards.
• Eco House Challenge Documentary series following two families as they radically reduce consumption in energy, water, transport and waste hotspots.
• Kindness of Strangers Documentary exploring the science of compassion following the 2004 Asian Tsunami.
• Outback Farm Documentary series following Anthony and Danyelle Haigh as they leave trucking life to start a remote farming operation in central Australia.
• Outback Terror: The Falconio Murder True crime series about the Falconio murder case. Marked as COMING SOON.

Quantifiable outcome

• Record-breaking 5 productions airing simultaneously over 3 months with 55 total hours produced
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UKTVcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2024UKTV commissioned two new series from Prospero Productions: Brit Cops Down Under (8x60') for U&W channel and The Legend of Outback Gold (w/t) (6x60') for U&Yesterday. Both series will also be available on UKTV's free streaming service, U.
• ScreenwestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScreenwest supports Prospero Productions through the Workforce Capacity Program – Documentary Fund, providing up to $50,000 for paid on-the-job training opportunities for local screen practitioners.
• LotterywestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLotterywest provides principal production funding for Prospero Productions productions including West Coast Cops, Outback Crystal Hunters Season 2, and Hunting Outback Gold.
• DCD RightsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales agent handling distribution of West Coast Cops produced for Channel 9 and UKTV's U&W.
• Sphere AbacusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales handled by Sphere Abacus for Outback Crystal Hunters Season 2, produced for Channel 7 and Warner Bros. Discovery.
• Bossa Nova MediaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales by Bossa Nova Media for Hunting Outback Gold, produced for Channel 9 and UKTV's U&Yesterday.
• Touchstone HireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated company providing production equipment and filming resources, maintaining all necessary resources for production including editing suites, computer systems, and filming equipment.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CJZ: Australian factual/documentary producer (Warner Bros. Discovery-owned); produces observational docs and reality-adjacent factual content for similar Australian and international broadcasters.
• Artemis Media: Australian independent factual and documentary producer (Secret Life of..., Michael Mosley docs); competes for the same factual slots on SBS, ABC, Channel 7/9, and international broadcasters.
• Dragonfly Film and Television: UK independent factual/entertainment producer (One Punch, Louis Theroux); directly comparable genre and broadcaster customer base (Channel 4, BBC, Discovery, NatGeo).
• Northern Pictures: Sydney-based Australian factual and observational documentary producer (Old People's Home for Kids, Australian Gangster); comparable slate, output volume, and broadcaster relationships.
• Wildbear Entertainment: Australian independent factual TV producer; produces observational and natural history content for international broadcasters - directly comparable in genre, scale, and customer base to Prospero.
• Screentime (Banijay): Australian factual and documentary producer owned by Banijay; produces observational documentaries (RBT, Border Security) directly competitive with Prospero's outback/cops formats.

Broad incumbents

• ITV Studios Factual: UK-based factual/documentary production arm of ITV; supplies content to UKTV and other broadcasters that Prospero also commissions into. Scale and genre overlap make it the principal incumbent counterparty.
• Beyond International: Australian-headquartered international content distributor and producer; comparable in servicing the same genre (factual/observational) with global distribution reach through sister-company Beyond Distribution.
• Endemol Shine Australia / Banijay Australia: Large Australian factual/reality production division of Banijay; competes for the same Network 7/9 factual slots and global streaming commissions. Established benchmark for what scale + ownership by a global super-indie unlocks.
• BBC Studios Factual: Global blue-chip natural history and factual producer; competes for premium documentary commissions at National Geographic and Discovery. Larger scale than Prospero but the closest large-scale benchmark for natural history factual.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Prospero_Prod
• Facebookfacebook.com/ProsperoProductions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/prospero-productions

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Prospero Productions