Newen’s Ringside Media backs Hal Vogel’s Slate Entertainment as Aukin and Vogel depart Daybreak Pictures

Ringside Media, the investment arm of Newen-backed indie Ringside Studios, has announced its second major investment by taking a stake in Slate Entertainment, the new drama production company founded by exec Hal Vogel. This follows the departure of David Aukin and Hal Vogel from Daybreak Pictures which they co-founded in 2006 with the Tinopolis Group.

At Daybreak they produced a range of television dramas and movies, winning numerous awards including bafta’s for Peter Kosminsky’s ‘Government Inspector’ and ‘Britz’ and a Peabody for Paula Milne’s ‘Endgame’. Movies include ‘Hyde Park on Hudson’, ‘Hamburg Cell’ and most recently Justin Kurzel’s ‘True History of the Kelly Gang’.

Vogel said: ‘Daybreak Pictures was a fantastic company committed to making stand-out era-defining TV. We had great partners in Tinopolis and I had an amazing partnership with David (Aukin) but now feels like a good time for change. The industry has transformed . Partnering with Ringside and Newen and their extensive European network and support structure, and with my own relationships and projects, is a really exciting next step for Slate Entertainment. David and I will continue to collaborate on projects together as I build a company committed to powerful new voices and great stories that can make impact internationally.’

Aukin said ’The 17 years with Tinopolis have been fantastic , supporting us at all times, but now its time to move on and for me to focus on a few pet projects. I wish Hal every success with Slate.’

Vogel is working on a range of high end scripted projects across film and TV. Slate Entertainment will focus on smart quality material with leading international talent and international partners.

Neal said: “Welcoming someone of Hal’s exceptional experience and skill in the high end scripted space into the Ringside family is a fantastic opportunity. We are excited about seeing his ambitious slate of projects come to life and working together in the future.”.

Both Ringside Media and Ringside Studios were founded by leading British producer and former commissioner Gub Neal (The Fall, Queer as Folk) and French media company and distributor Newen

Philippe Levasseur, Newen’s Head of International, said ‘We are delighted to welcome Hal in the Newen Group; He is a multi-award winning producer with a very strong team spirit and our producers across Europe are eager to team up with him on high end series and films’.

*Newen (a subsidiary of the TF1 group company) is a major player in audiovisual production and distribution in Europe. The group has a multi-genre catalogue that fit diversified clients and territories demands from all around the world. Since 2017, Newen has grown internationally with the acquisition of companies such as Tuvalu and Pupkin (Netherlands), Nimbus (Denmark), De Mensen (Belgium), Reel One (Canada, United States and United Kingdom), Ringside and Fictionhouse (United Kingdom), iZen and Kubik Films (Spain). With its international distribution arm, Newen Connect, and the integration of TF1 Studio in 2020, the Newen group has a catalogue of 6,000 hours and more than 1,000 films.

Ringside Media was established in 2020 as part of parent company Newen’s strategy to expand into the English-speaking scripted market and to strengthen its ties to the world class production activity currently being generated out of the UK. The boutique investment fund, aims to make bespoke investments and partnerships with companies looking for the benefits of a larger supportive international and domestic network. The companies will all work closely with Newen Connect, Newen’s distribution arm. In February this year, Ringside Media announced its first investment into Fictionhouse. Further investments are currently in negotiation.