Night Train Media Sells Its Shares in ‘Chess Masters’ Developer Curve, Along with BossaNova Media and Eccho Rights
Night Train Media Sells Stakes in Major European Companies to Serafin Group
In a significant shift within the media landscape, Herbert L. Kloiber’s Night Train Media has sold its stakes in Curve Media, BossaNova Media, and Eccho Rights to Germany’s Serafin Group. The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
As the new majority shareholder, Serafin Group has positioned itself as the primary management entity for the three companies, appointing Christoph Auer as the interim CEO following the acquisition. Reports indicate that Curve, BossaNova, and Eccho have been operating under Serafin’s direction for several weeks, marking a seamless transition after the acquisition.
Serafin, a private equity firm, retains a 50% investment in Night Train Media, which is refocusing its efforts on co-producing and co-financing high-end scripted television and film projects.
"Organizational changes" are anticipated at Eccho, though Kloiber, who served as the company’s CEO, is currently the only individual to depart. Sources have confirmed that both Eccho and Night Train plan to maintain a collaborative partnership moving forward.
Founded in 2020, Night Train Media, based in both London and Munich, launched with Serafin as an investor to create a joint venture. The acquisition of Curve Media, which produces the series Chess Masters: The Endgame, along with stakes in Eccho Rights and BossaNova Media, was part of an effort to establish a robust European production and sales group.
Although Night Train invested heavily in English-language scripted content at Eccho, producing internationally recognized shows like Safe Harbor, the overall programming slate remained limited. It is expected that Eccho will pivot away from this segment, instead focusing on popular Turkish dramas such as Golden Boy and Beneath the Surface.
The shift comes after discussions revealed that the anticipated synergies between Night Train and the acquired companies did not materialize as expected. This led to the decision to restructure.
Serafin Group, which specializes in acquiring firms with annual revenues ranging from €20 million to €200 million, will now directly oversee Curve, Eccho, and BossaNova. A source indicated that "Serafin sees the value in having them as assets."
Curve Media is known for producing popular unscripted series, including BBC Two’s Chess Masters and Discovery’s Salvage Hunters. BossaNova Media, led by Paul Heaney, is recognized for producing shows such as Borderforce USA and the …By Train franchise.
Eccho Rights operates from multiple locations, including Stockholm, Istanbul, London, and Madrid, holding a library of 25,000 hours of content. The company saw a leadership change earlier this year when Fredrik af Malmborg stepped down, with Kloiber then assuming the role of CEO while maintaining his position at Night Train.
As Night Train Media aims to strengthen its focus on scripted productions, notable projects in development include the Samuel L. Jackson film The Beast and The Housekeeper, featuring Anthony Hopkins and Helena Bonham Carter.
The sale of Curve, Eccho, and BossaNova stands out as a move to disband a previously consolidated group amidst a year of significant mergers and acquisitions within the industry, highlighted by the recent consolidation of Banijay and All3Media, as well as Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Kloiber previously served as the Managing Director of Tele München Group, a company founded by his father, Herbert G. Kloiber.
