Cloud 9 drama helps profits

LONDON - The British production company that shoots futuristic television programme The Tribe in New Zealand has posted a bumper profit.

Sanctuary Group, which last year bought British record company Castle Music and the United States' CMG International Records, said turnover increased 91 per cent to £44.1 million ($144.3 million).

Pre-tax profit for the year to September 30, 2000, rose by 63 per cent to £4.1 million, up from £2.5 million.

Sanctuary has just completed its third series of The Tribe, which is set in a post-apocalyptic world where there are only young people.

The programme has become an international hit with teenagers.

Manawatu's Ohakea Air Force Base was the setting last month for the final episode of the third series, the filming involving the RNZAF parachute display team and a C-130 Hercules transport plane.

Produced by Raymond Thompson's Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment, of Lower Hutt, The Tribe screens weekly in Europe and North America.

It depicts a world in which the adult population has been wiped out by a virus, leaving children to fend for themselves.

"I have been very pleased with the organic growth of our existing business and the integration of the two major acquisitions of Castle Music and CMG International Records," said the Sanctuary chief executive, Andy Taylor.

"They have created a very strong record company that has a lot of potential for continued growth."

The group's catalogue includes music by established rock acts such as Black Sabbath, The Kinks and Iron Maiden.

Other acts as diverse as heavy-metal band Megadeth and country star Dolly Parton are also signed up.

Mr Taylor said Sanctuary had developed the artist management side of its business, adding to its roster Elaine Paige, Dennis Waterman and Ray Davies from The Kinks.

Sanctuary's shares rose 1.5p to 74.5p on the London Stock Exchange.

- NZPA