PBS Masterpiece inks BBC’s Press

PBS Masterpiece, the US public broadcaster’s long-running UK period drama strand, has joined as coproduction partner on forthcoming BBC1 contemporary newspaper drama Press.

The 6×60’ series, penned by Mike Bartlett (Doctor Foster), is described as an ambitious new series set in the world of post-hacking scandal newspapers, under increasing pressure from the internet and 24-hour news.

The show, which was on Polly Hill’s inaugural BBC drama slate before she jumped ship to ITV, will be produced by Nigel Stafford-Clark’s Deep Indigo, BBC Studios and Lookout Point.

The latter, together with major shareholder BBC Worldwide (BBCWW), brokered the deal with PBS Masterpiece.

“At a time when both the nature and the role of the press have themselves become part of the news, there’s never been a better moment to focus on this unique world as the basis of a major television series,” said Stafford-Clark.

The series will be exec produced by Bartlett, Faith Penhale for Lookout Point, Bethan Jones for BBC Studios and Rebecca Eaton for PBS Masterpiece.

“Given the importance of this drama, it’s exciting to know that this tie-up with PBS Masterpiece will offer significant exposure to audiences in North America on a network with an unparalleled track record in taking great British scripted content across the Atlantic,” said Penhale.

PBS is coming under increasing competitive pressure from SVoD players like Netflix, which have been outbidding it for series such as The Crown, and faces an uncertain future as Donald Trump takes over as US president.

BBCWW and Lookout Point last week joined forces with former BBC TV controller Danny Cohen’s new venture Access Entertainment to set in motion fully financed straight-to-series dramas via Benchmark Television.