UK-based Target Entertainment has secured sales for new US-produced ob doc Storage Hunters (21×30’) – welcome news after a warning a dip in sales would impact on its parent’s yearly profits.
UK digital channel Dave, the Netherlands’ SBS and Canadian speciality net OLN have all acquired the fly-on-the-wall series, which looks into the competitive world of storage unit auctions and was produced for US cablenet TruTV by T Group Productions. Target recently secured international distribution and format rights.
The series follows auctioneer Sean Kelly, who offloads items that range from bundles of cash to thousand-dollar chairs to the highest bidder. In the US, auctioneers can sell the wares found inside storage units if payments aren’t kept up.
“Observational documentaries continue to appeal to broadcasters worldwide and Storage Hunters delivers both the entertainment and edgy realism that buyers are looking for,” said Target’s director of sales Hannah Worrall. All three networks will launch the show this year.
The news comes after Target parent Metrodome Group said last month its yearly operating profit would be “materially below current market expectations” due a lack of fourth quarter television sales, though it didn’t cite numbers.
Target, which sells shows such as Fifi and the Flowertots, had experienced “tougher than expected trading conditions” in the fourth quarter, a period in which the distributor has traditionally generated most of its revenue, it noted.
A “marked slowdown” in European markets was the reason for the dip, added Metrodome. The company’s other sales divisions, both of which service the film industry, performed better but internationally-focused Target saw buyers delaying decisions or “not buying any product at all.”
Metrodome bought Target in 2010 for £800,000 (US$1.3m) after a period of protracted talks. In October last year, the firm said goodbye to founder and CEO Alison Rayson, who stepped down after 13 years and was replaced by former FremantleMedia and ITV Emmanuelle Namiech.
.jpg)
