Freehand Productions
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television production |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | John Gregory, Peter Abbott, Chris O’Mara |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Television programs including Top Gear Australia, Freshwater Blue, Missing Persons Unit, Planet Cake, Joker Poker |
Freehand Productions is a television production company based in Australia, established in 2004 by producers John Gregory, Peter Abbott, and Chris O’Mara.
The company creates a wide range of programming, encompassing light factual entertainment, observational documentaries, specials, and children’s shows for Australia’s commercial, public, and subscription television networks.
Notable titles from Freehand include Top Gear Australia, Freshwater Blue, Missing Persons Unit, Planet Cake, and Joker Poker.
History
In 2007, BBC Worldwide acquired a 25% ownership interest in Freehand for around A$2.5 million, marking its first investment in an existing enterprise rather than a startup. This shareholding was sold back to co-founder Peter Abbott in 2012.
Co-founder Chris O'Mara departed from the company in 2009.
In 2010, Freehand delivered the inaugural local commission for MTV Australia with the reality program Freshwater Blue.
Productions
Freehand's portfolio includes Planet Cake (Lifestyle Food), Matt Wright: Outback Wrangler (National Geographic Channel), Freshwater Blue (MTV), Top Gear Australia (which transitioned from SBS to Nine Network in 2010), Dancing with the Stars (Seven Network), Bush Slam (ABC), Costa's Garden Odyssey (SBS), Missing Persons Unit (Nine Network), An Audience with Michael Parkinson (UKTV), and One Small Step: The Australian Story (BBC Knowledge and BBC HD).
In 2008, Freehand collaborated with Blink Films to produce the children’s series Escape from Scorpion Island (ABC) and secured the first commission for CBeebies Australia with the preschool show Penelope K, by the way.
Production credits
- Meet the Hockers (9Go!)
- A League of Their Own (Ten)
- Some Say Love - Pilot (UKTV)
- Planet Cake (Lifestyle Food)
- Matt Wright: Outback Wrangler (National Geographic Channel)
- Freshwater Blue (MTV)
- Goa Hippy Tribe (SBS)
- Penelope K, by the way (CBeebies)
- Costa's Arnhem Land Odyssey (SBS)
- Costa's Garden Odyssey Series 1 and 2 (SBS)
- Bush Slam (ABC)
- One Small Step (BBC Knowledge)
- An Audience with Michael Parkinson (UKTV)
- The Nest Series 1 and 2 (SBS)
- Escape from Scorpion Island Series 2 - 5 (with RDF for ABC and BBC)
- Top Gear Australia Series 1 and 2 (BBC Worldwide and SBS), Series 3 and 4 (BBC Worldwide and Nine Network)
- Dancing with the Stars (Seven Network)
- Missing Persons Unit Series 1 - 5 (Nine Network)
- Great Australian Homes (How To Channel)
- Owner Builder (How To Channel)
- Outback Wildlife Rescue (Seven Network and BBC Worldwide)
- The Great BBQ Challenge (XYZ Lifestyle Food)
- The 2005 and 2006 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
- Honey, We're Killing the Kids (Ten Network and BBC Worldwide)
- Skating On Thin Ice (Nine Network)
- My Restaurant Rules (Seven Network)
- Queer Eye For The Straight Guy (Ten Network)