Zodiak Media snaps up Inbetweeners TV company

The independent production company behind hit comedy The Inbetweeners has been snapped up by Zodiak Media Group.

The founders of Bwark called it a "landmark summer" for the company following the announcement yesterday and as it waits for the movie adaptation of the show. They did not disclose the value of the deal.

The production company was set up in London in 2004 by two former Channel 4 commissioning editors Iain Morris and Damon Beesley. They also wrote The Inbetweeners. Other Bwark shows include Free Agents, Angelo's and The Persuationists.

Mr Beesley said: "It's the start of a new chapter for Bwark. We're looking forward to benefitting from the Zodiak group's global network to build on our existing successes and future hit comedies."

This marks Zodiak's first deal since it bought RDF Media Group, another UK production company, last summer. RDF was behind the hit show format Wife Swap.

Zodiak is part of the De Agostini group, best known for its partwork magazine series, and has 45 production companies in 18 territories with annual revenues of around €500m.

Joely Fether, chief executive of Zodiak's UK, Netherlands and Belgium division, said: "Since they founded Bwark seven years ago, Iain and Damon have firmly established their position as two of the UK's most talented comedy writers and producers." She added they would boost the group's comedy output in the UK as well as targeting the US "over the coming years".

This follows a spate of deals for independent production companies including Shine, which Elisabeth Murdoch sold to her father's company earlier this year. Time Warner bought Shed Media, the company behind Supernanny, in 2010, while "super indie" All3Media is currently on the block.