Sideline is a new Irish multi media production company set up by Billy McGrath and Gerry Kelly covering DVD, TV, Radio and Talent. Billy is an award winning TV producer and an established name in the Irish broadcasting and production industry. Gerry comes from a financial and business background with experience in a range of industries including financial services, consultancy, IT, web and mobile services.
Billy McGrath, with a successful 20-year career in TV in Ireland and the UK, was appointed Commissioning Editor for Entertainment for Irish state broadcaster RTE in 2000 and joined Midas Productions in 2003 as Executive Producer programming. Over the next two years Midas increased their production by 1000%. The first commission ‘Close Encounters with Keith Barry’, became the biggest success for RTE International and nominated at the Rose D’Or TV Festival 2005 as ‘Best Variety Programme’. Other projects included the 2005 RTE Two comedy/dating series Karl Spain Wants a Woman (22% share) and the stand up series The Liffey Laugh (currently Thursdays RTE Two and a co-production with Sideline). In an amicable agreement with Midas all projects and formats developed by McGrath reverts to Sideline. The new company is still based in the Midas/Reelgood post-production Dublin HQ.
A new company Sideline DVD Publishing has exclusive DVD exploitation rights to Ireland’s national sports - Hurling and Gaelic Football. With the backing of the GAA and distributors Universal, Sideline will be producing DVDs and related TV product for both the home and vast Irish population abroad. The first two DVD releases SAM 05 and LIAM 05 - looking back at last year's Football and Hurling Championship - were released for Xmas 2005. Sideline Productions will be producing all content for the DVD publishing arm plus developing TV projects for Irish and international markets.
Sideline's first TV commission is the travel / sports series Leagues Apart presented by comedian / actor Ardal O’Hanlon (Ch 4’s Father Ted / BBC’s My Hero) for RTE in 2006. Based around the great cities and soccer derbies of Europe, filming commences in Athens this week in the run up to the classic derby match between Olympiakos and Panathinaikos on Sunday January 15th. TX April 2006.
Sideline has also linked up with Irish born director Declan Lowney (Fr Ted, Cold Feet, Little Britain, Help) to source new Irish comedy writers for TV / Film and actively developing a separate Radio Production and Talent Management arm. Billy will continue to play an active part in FRAPA and the international TV formats industry.
www.sideline.ie
