Sports and entertainment producer The Whisper Group is to revert to private ownership for the first time in more than a decade after Sony Pictures Television (SPT) sold its minority share in the company.
SPT is divesting the 30% shareholding it has held in Whisper since 2020, having secured a “significant” return on its investment by steering the sports, media and entertainment company through a period of 500% revenue growth from around £20m to £100m.
During this five-year period, Whisper also established regional arms Whisper North in Salford, which makes ITV's Pictionary, and Whisper Cymru in Cardiff, which produces Channel 4's Paralympics coverage including this month's Winter Games.
Prior to SPT’s investment, Channel 4 had accelerated Whisper’s sport and branded content growth over five years.
Whisper said it will now use external finance to deliver a “bold and ambitious” strategy, create an employee equity scheme, and allow the management team, led by chief executive Sunil Patel, who co-founded the company in 2010 with Jame Humphrey and David Coulthard.
Whisper will continue to work with SPT through strategic partnerships to deliver entertainment brands such as Wheel of Fortune, as well as a range of sports and media projects.
Whisper said it has spent the last year analysing the market and making the structural changes required for the business to best take advantage of the burgeoning and rapidly evolving sports, media and entertainment market.
“Five years ago, Whisper set off on a journey to become a multi-genre production company,” said Patel. “That has been absolutely delivered - creatively, commercially and culturally - with revenue up nearly 500%.”
He said Sony had helped “elevate Whisper to a truly global force”, adding: “It was that collaboration, alongside our valued partners, that has helped us create a scalable business telling ambitious stories that entertain and impact the world. All delivered by our industry-leading team.
“The next chapter of Whisper’s story is already underway, and that will continue to place our people at the heart by ensuring they share in future growth alongside shareholders.
“The platform is set, as is the team. Now it’s time to go make it happen once again.”
