Gracenote Buys Movie and TV Data Firm Baseline

In the US, Tribune Media-owned music data provider Gracenote has acquired movie and television information and services company Baseline for $50m.

Baseline's movie and TV database offers information on more than 300,000 movies and TV projects, nearly 1.5 million TV and Film professionals, and box office data for 45 territories. This includes production timelines, shooting locations, project financing, complete cast and crew credits, talent representation, biographies and imagery. The database is also the foundation for Baseline's subscription-based content delivery platform, The Studio System, which is used by Hollywood studios, production companies and talent agencies as a primary source of business intelligence.

Gracenote, which was itself acquired by Tribune Media last December, says the latest buy will deepen its own metadata by adding detailed, descriptive information about movies and TV productions; while at the same time expanding its ability to reach the studio and TV network communities.

John Batter (pictured), recently appointed CEO of Gracenote, comments: 'Baseline's production data coupled with its existing relationships with the studio community will help us improve the depth and breadth of the data we offer to existing Gracenote customers, as well as provide us with a foundation to build products aimed squarely at serving the entertainment industry.'

Earlier this year, Tribune Media expanded the Gracenote brand to India, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, through the acquisition of TV data provider What's-ON.

Web sites: www.gracenote.com and www.baselineresearch.com .