Conexion lines up TV debut

UK-based media company Conexion Media Group is developing its first in-house television show, an animated series based on a series of children’s books from publisher HarperCollins.

Conexion is to turn Have a Go Harvey into a series penned by Colin Davis (Dr Who, Blake’s 7, Engie Benjy), having signed a licence agreement with the publisher.

Over the next few weeks it will begin pre-production on a pilot to be presented at Mipcom in October. Several European networks have already expressed “considerable” interest, Conexion said.

Work on a 78×7′ series will begin once broadcasters are signed up as partners, C21 understands.

Former Thames Television and Sunset + Vine executive Mark Rowland, who runs Conexion’s TV production as head of business development, said the agreement with HarperCollins will help to “further expand our rights business into coproduction and intellectual property within television.”

Originally a music rights group, Conexion set up a TV arm two years ago, though Have a Go Harvey will be its first in-house production. “We’ve identified a number of properties we want to develop, and Have a Go Harvey is the major one for us,” Conexion’s CEO Justin Sherry told C21.

“We’re an international company with offices all over the world (Europe, Hong Kong, US) and we’re unlike a lot of producers today who just whinge about there not being any money out there and expect broadcasters to come along with a magic wand. If you want to develop something you have to do it on an international basis.”

HarperCollins Children’s Books owns the rights to Have a Go Harvey, which centres on an adventurous young boy and his varied exploits.