Cordell Jigsaw founders Michael Cordell and Nick Murray, and Zapruder’s Other Films owner Andrew Denton, announced on 27 February that they would merge their companies.

The merged operation Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder (CJZ) will become the biggest privately owned production company in Australia. The combined group currently has 10 shows in production for the ABC, Foxtel, Nine, SBS, and Ten.

Combined, Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder produces some of the most successful shows on Australian TV. Zapruder’s The Gruen Transfer, is the highest rating show on the ABC and won this year’s AACTA Award for Best Light Entertainment Program. Likewise Cordell Jigsaw’s Go Back to Where You Came From was the biggest hit on SBS last year and the format is selling worldwide, while Bondi Rescue is the longest running factual series on Ten.

The CJZ libraries and formats will be managed internationally by Cordell Jigsaw Distribution.