M&A interest in production houses in India and other Asian markets has also risen as global streamers increasingly focus on international markets to propel their subscriber growth. Now, thanks to Netflix and others, shows originating in places like Turkey, South Korea, India, and Israel are resonating not only with local audiences, but with viewers in other countries. The US used to be the main exporter of content around the world. 'There's a lot more cross pollination of content assets across the globe.'

'The boundaries of content are diminishing' Khan said.

STX Entertainment merged last year with Indian movie producer and distributor Eros International, in another example of a US-international tie up. Firms in the Middle East including Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi have been sizing up international production houses since Qatar's BeIN Media Group bought a majority stake in US studio Miramax in 2016, said Shahid Khan, a partner at management consultancy Arthur D. US companies aren't the only buyers for these kinds of production houses either. 'The most attractive deals are actually something different.'īlum said there could be more affordable, and equally compelling targets, in markets like the Nordics or Turkey, where production costs are still low but shows like Norway's 'Ragnarok' and Turkey's 'Ertuğrul' have proven they can break through with global audiences. 'The US production houses are all going to be a similar story to Hello Sunshine I think you overpay because that's the most expensive IP on planet earth,' Sebastian Blum, partner at OC&C Strategy Consultants, told Insider. The Information reported in July that SpringHill was exploring a sale that could value it at $750 million.īut three industry sources who specialize in M&A told Insider that international production companies could offer buyers more bang for their buck, given the high valuations for US companies. The reported valuation, which the companies have not confirmed, raises the profile of US production houses like LeBron James' SpringHill Entertainment. The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Witherspoon agreed to sell the shop behind Apple TV+'s 'The Morning Show' and Hulu's 'Little Fires Everywhere,' at a $900 million valuation, to a company backed by investment firm Blackstone Group and led by former Disney executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs. Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine is fueling chatter about other potential deals for star-powered and influential production houses, in the US and abroad.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

We created a short list of the kinds of international companies that could be compelling targets.

Sources told Insider international production houses could offer buyers more bang for their buck.

Reese Witherspoon's sale of Hello Sunshine is fueling chatter about other potential deals.

Popular movie production companies