A slew of deals from MIPCOM Cannes this week indicates there is still life in the global TV market.
Paramount Global Content Distribution has signed a multi-year deal with beIN Media Group, giving the Qatari-owned group exclusive rights to Paramount's content library, including acclaimed series such as Yellowstone, Billionsnew offers like NCIS: Tony and Ziva and feature films included Bob Marley: a love and the Transformers AND Mission: impossible franchising, across the Middle East and North Africa for beIN's premium Pay TV channels and TOD streaming platform. The deal will see shows broadcast in English subtitled in Arabic. Paramount has similar deals in place with the likes of Streamz in Belgium, MultiChoice in Africa and JioCinema in India.
Disney-owned Hulu, which on Monday announced its acquisition of the StudioCanal action series Paris has fallenit also won streaming rights in the United States Critical incidentan Australian psychological thriller from All3Media International. The series, inspired by creator Sarah Bassiuoni's experiences as a lawyer in Western Sydney's juvenile justice system, follows a police officer, played by Akshay Khanna, whose routine patrol takes a tragic turn. Zoë Boe and Hunter Page-Lochard co-star. Critical incident debuted in August in Australia on Stan. Hulu will launch the series later this year as part of its global rollout.
In the UK, the BBC acquired The one that got awaya six-part crime drama set in Wales, for BBC Wales, BBC Four and BBC iPlayer. Produced by BlackLight TV, a Banijay UK company, the series was written by Catherine Tregenna (Law and order in the UK) and stars Elen Rhys, Richard Harrington and Rhian Blythe. The psychological thriller follows DI Ffion Lloyd (Rhys) and her ex-lover, DS Rick Walters (Harrington), as they investigate the murder of a nurse in a coastal town in Wales. The case reopens old wounds and raises fears that he is a copycat killer. The series is an English-language version of Cleddauan original Welsh language series for S4C.
Following the successful UK premiere on BBC One, Fremantle has secured global distribution Night sleepera high-octane drama now ready to launch in 147 territories. Key deals include broadcasters such as TF1 (France), M-Net (Africa) and Stan (Australia). The series, which captivated audiences with its real-time thriller format about the hijacking of a sleeper train, garnered 8.5 million viewers in the UK and strong ratings in France, with episode one taking a share market share of 17.4%. Created by Nick Leather, the 6-episode series stars Joe Cole and Alexandra Roach.
On the sales side, BBC Studios has announced major deals in Europe and sub-Saharan Africa for catalog content, with Franco-German group Arte.TV acquiring free video-on-demand rights to period dramas as War and peace AND The Miserablesand series including Jane Campion Top of the lake. Warner Bros. Discovery's Max platform has added popular titles including Sherlock, LutherAND Misfitswhile the French M6+ took Pride and prejudice AND Reason and sensitivity and Sky Italia has added crime series such as Luther AND Death in Paradise. In sub-Saharan Africa, the SABC has secured BBC natural history series, including Serengeti II AND Frozen Planet II.
The couple next doora hit Channel 4/Starz series, has racked up global sales for Beta Film, with deals announced in more than 55 territories. Highlights include deals with RTL Germany, RAI Italy and Amazon Netherlands, with NBC Universal picking the show for Brazil/Latin America.
The six-hour drama, starring Sam Heughan, Eleanor Tomlinson, Jessica De Gouw and Alfred Enoch, was Channel 4's biggest streaming launch. Loosely adapted from the Dutch series The neighborsexplores suburban claustrophobia and the consequences of pursuing dark desires.