19 Entertainment
Simon Fuller has played a key role in shaping popular culture, first in the UK and then all over the world. He devised, developed and managed The Spice Girls before founding the talent development and management company 19 Entertainment. Ingenious Media was one of the original investors in the business.
With a string of early successes behind them, 19 went on to pioneer the world’s first interactive talent entertainment show, the hugely successful Pop Idol.
By 2005, the show was broadcasting in 24 territories around the world. Both the management and shareholders of the business were keen to realise some of its huge value and Simon Fuller also wanted to create a vehicle for further expansion, both in the US and in Latin America.
Thanks to our wide network of relationships in North America, we were able to successfully position the company as a compelling acquisition. It was ultimately acquired in a cash and stock deal worth over £100m by entertainment giant CKX, known primarily as the majority stakeholder in Elvis Presley Enterprises and Muhammad Ali Enterprises.
The deal saw Simon Fuller remain in his role as CEO whilst also becoming a director of CKX, where he effectively co-ordinated all creative aspects of the business until January 2010.