Jane Rogerson, former Director of Commissioning at UKtv, and Ross Harper, Executive Producer at IWC Media, announced the launch of a new Glasgow based independent production company, Red Sky Productions. Red Sky will deliver first-class factual and factual entertainment programmes to UK network broadcasters and to the international and digital productions market. Rogerson and Harper, who will be Red Sky’s joint Managing Directors, have appointed Sue Oriel, previously CEO of Firecracker Films, to advise and support them in commercial and business affairs. Sue will be responsible for establishing the management and financial side of the business and is charged with finding a distribution partner to support Red Sky in its international ambitions.
Before Firecracker Sue was Managing Director of IWC Media for 7 years. Ros Homan joins Red Sky as Head of Development. Ros has led specialist factual development at BBC Science, BBC Scotland Specialist Factual, and Boundless Productions. She has developed hit series including Supermarket Secrets for BBC One, An Hour to Save Your Life and What’s the Right Diet for You? for BBC Two, and the multi-award-nominated film The Girl Who Talked to Dolphins for BBC Four.
Red Sky Productions is partnered with a group of angel investors who have taken a minority stake in the company and will support Red Sky creatively and commercially. Red Sky has also received funding from Scottish Enterprise, Glasgow City Council as well as Channel 4’s Alpha Fund, which supports creative development for independent production companies in the nations and regions. Jane Rogerson’s tenure as Director of Commissioning at UKtv saw some of the network’s most successful and critically acclaimed shows including Dynamo: Magician Impossible, the return of Yes, Prime Minister, the relaunch of Red Dwarf X, Hairy Bikers Mississippi Adventure and Choccywoccydoodah.
Rogerson oversaw original content on all 10 UKtv channels and transformed the network’s commissioning strategy, establishing UKtv as a key player in the UK television industry. Before joining UKtv, Rogerson was the Controller of Features at ITV and creative director at Mentorn. Most recently, she returned to the production sector working with a number of companies including ITN Productions as an executive producer and on Channel 4’s election and referendum coverage. She has also been Deputy Chair of the Edinburgh TV Festival.
Ross Harper’s recent credits include Slow Train Through Africa with Griff Rhys Jones for ITV, The Inca: Masters of the Clouds for BBC4, and Robbie Coltrane’s Critical Evidence for A+E. Harper also series produced the first series of the popular Extreme Fishing With Robson Green, a franchise that now totals more than 70 shows, and directed the Scottish BAFTA award-winning Mountain With Griff Rhys Jones for BBC1.
