2waytraffic

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2waytraffic
In-name-only unit of Sony Pictures Television
Industry Television production
Broadcast syndication
Light entertainment
Online games
Website development
Mobile marketing
Mobile entertainment
Genre Interactive entertainment
Television
Founded Hilversum, Netherlands (2004)
Founder Kees Abrahams, Unico Glorie, Taco Ketelaar and Henk Keilman
Headquarters Hilversum, Netherlands
London, UK
New York, USA
Budapest, Hungary
Stockholm, Sweden
Madrid, Spain
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kiev, Ukraine
Area served
Worldwide
Products Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
That's the Question
Revenue 29,308,539 (2006)
4,436,233 (2006)
Profit 2,923,396 (2006)
Total assets 301,747,019 (2006)
Total equity 104,014,193 (2006)
Owner Sony Pictures Entertainment (Sony)
Number of employees
150 (2006)
Parent Sony Pictures Television
Divisions 2waytraffic Mobile
Intellygents
Subsidiaries 2waytraffic International
Slogan Converting viewers into customers

2waytraffic is a television production company based in Hilversum, Netherlands. It was established in 2004 by former Endemol executives Kees Abrahams, Unico Glorie, Taco Ketelaar and Henk Keilman. It currently has offices in London, New York, Budapest, Stockholm, and Madrid.

History

The company expanded significantly in 2006 with three acquisitions, beginning with the mobile solutions provider Emexus in June and then the content developer Intellygents in August.[1][2] The most notable acquisition, however, was that of the rights of the UK company Celador International and its programme library, including the international Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? franchise, on December 1, 2006.[3][4]

On March 14, 2007, Celador International Limited was relaunched as 2waytraffic International.[5]

Sony era

On June 4, 2008, 2waytraffic was acquired by 2JS Productions, a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment.[6] On September 29, 2waytraffic became the distributor of the entertainment formats by SPTI.[7]

On April 1, 2009, Sony Pictures Entertainment consolidated its US and international television companies under the SPT roof such as: 2waytraffic, Embassy Row, Starling, Teleset, and Lean-M. Sony Pictures Television International now operates in-name-only.[8]

In April 2012, it became "Sony Pictures Television International Formats", with the 2waytraffic logo immediately being replaced by the Sony Pictures Television logo on internationally licensed shows. It's currently an in-name-only unit of Sony Pictures Television.

Companies by 2waytraffic

2waytraffic International, Sony Pictures Television

Formerly Celador International, this company owns, distributes, licenses and operates over 200 game show formats such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in the United States, UK, Eastern Europe, and Nordic. After SPE acquired 2waytrafic, the international subsidiary became 2waytraffic International, Sony Pictures Television, and was headed by Ed Louwerse.

Emexus Group

This is a mobile solutions group acquired by 2waytraffic on June 13, 2006, which is now 2waytraffic Mobile.[9]

Intellygents

Intellygents was established in 2002 by former Endemol employees Kirsten van Nieuwenhuijzen and Mark van Berkel, and acquired by 2waytraffic on July 11, 2006.[10][11] It is a creative developing company for intelligent entertainment, with formats such as That's the Question, Take It or Leave It, The Greatest Royalty Expert and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire's first spin-off game show 50:50.

In 2010, following Sony's acquisition of 60% of Tuvalu Media, Intellygents was integrated into that company.[12]

In December 2013, Tuvalu's management joined forces with financing firm Karmign to acquire SPT's 60% stake in the company. The Intellygents brand had by then been retired, though its formats remain with Tuvalu.[13]

List of programs

2waytraffic also produced a number of phone-in quiz shows like Play, Garito and Game On where viewers could call to a premium-rate phone number for a theoretical chance to earn cash prizes.[15][16][17][18]

Notes and references

  1. 2 Way Traffic N.V. Acquisition of Emexus Group B.V., 2waytraffic.com
  2. Acquisition of Intellygents B.V. strengthens 2waytraffic’s prime time TV offer, 2waytraffic.com
  3. 2waytraffic wants to be 'Millionaire', backstage.com, Retrieved on May 25, 2012
  4. "Toy News" New owners take on Celador International and Millionaire brand, toynews-online.biz, Retrieved on July 7, 2012
  5. "Telecompaper' CIL re-launches as 2waytraffic International telecompaper.com, Retrieved on December 24, 2012
  6. Stuart Levine "Variety" Sony Pictures acquires 2waytraffic, variety.com, Retrieved on June 19, 2013
  7. Michael Rosser "Broadcast" 29 September 2008 2waytraffic to distribute Sony formats broadcastnow.co.uk, Retrieved on August 3, 2013
  8. Sony combines TV units, chollywood.org
  9. "Telecompaper"2waytraffic acquires Emexus Group telecompaper.com, Retrieved on July 3, 2013
  10. "Broadcast Now" 2waytraffic acquires format creator broadcastnow.co.uk, Retrieved on July 3, 2013
  11. 2waytraffic Acquires Intellygents wskogee1.kogee.net, Retrieved on July 3, 2013
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  14. On December 2006, 2waytraffic acquired Celador's television properties, including the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire franchise. On January 2007, Celador International was merged with and reincorporated as 2waytraffic International. The closing logo of 2waytraffic was added in September 2007, and SPE acquired 2waytraffic in 2008. It has been used only on the syndicated version.
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