Red Heart

For the playing card of the name Red Heart, seePlaying card.For the rainforest tree in the Mahogany family, seeDysoxylum rufum.For other uses, seeRedheart.

Red Heartwas a joint venture between theSeven NetworkandGranada PLCbetween c. 1999 and 2001. It brought together all of itsAustralianparents' TV production resources, except those used for Seven's news and soaps.

One theory states that Granada was looking to buy Seven's core, through it eventually owning 100% of Red Heart. Red Heart may have also eventually controlled Seven's news and soaps. This was a time when "content is king" was a popular idea.

Australia'sBroadcasting Services Act 1992disallows foreign entities owning more than 15% of any TV station licence holder, but owning a company that provides a station with 100% of its content for 99% of its income is fine. (CanWestfound another way around the law to own a majority stake ofNetwork Ten).

However, Granada decided to pull out of Red Heart when it realised it could make more money selling Australian programs to other Australian broadcasters than it would just supplying Seven. It has been rare to see Australian-made Granada programs on the screen.

References

• https://books.google.com/books?id=NUXIAgAAQBAJ&dq=%22Red+Heart%22+granada+-yarn&pg=PA186
• https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/special-mip-tv-granada-shuts-red-heart-after-clash/1173431.article
• http://www.c21media.net/granada-walks-away-from-red-heart/
• https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/apr/06/citynews.broadcasting
• https://www.smh.com.au/news/business/vizard-finally-ends-long-time-at-the-top/2005/07/05/1120329446704.html
• https://variety.com/2008/scene/news/itv-s-paul-jackson-exits-1117992326/