Syco Entertainment is a British multimedia entertainment company, headquartered in both London and Los Angeles, founded and owned by British entrepreneur and record executive Simon Cowell. The company operates several divisions including a record label, talent agency, and TV and film production as well as publishing. It was initially divided into three units: Syco Music, Syco TV and Syco Film. The company was formed in 2005 through Sony Music Entertainment entering a joint venture by purchasing Cowell's shares of his record label S Records and television company Syco Television. In 2009, Sony and Cowell entered a joint venture agreement that covered the joint ownership of Syco's television formats which include the "Got Talent" and "The X Factor" franchises. Until 2020, the company operated high profile television and music projects with Sony Music labels around the world and television production company Fremantle. It employs a staff of more than 50 in offices in London and Los Angeles, and manages a string of high-profile television and music brands through partnerships with the label Sony Music and the television production company.