Reveille Company

NBC Entertainment co-Chairman Ben Silverman has agreed to sell his production company, which makes "The Office" and "Ugly Betty," to a London-based firm owned by Elisabeth Murdoch for at least $125 million, people familiar with the situation said Friday. Silverman put the company, Reveille, up for sale last year to deflect criticism that his dual role as a supplier and buyer of programming was a potential conflict of interest.

NBC Entertainment co-Chairman Ben Silverman on Wednesday sold his television production company to London-based Shine Ltd., owned by media baron Rupert Murdoch's daughter Elisabeth, for $125 million. Formed in 2002, Reveille is one of the few major independent TV companies that has flourished in an era when media giants control both entertainment production and distribution. Silverman said the sale was bittersweet. "I love Reveille.

NBC Universal hired Ben Silverman in June to reverse the fading fortunes of its broadcast network. But the biggest winner so far seems to be the 37-year-old TV producer and the production company, Reveille, he is poised to sell for more than $100 million. Since Silverman became co-chairman of NBC Entertainment, in charge of picking the network's shows, Reveille has become a leading source of programming for NBC.