Programming Profile

With the excesses of December over and a less challenging year to hopefully look forward to, broadcasters are working to populate January schedules with content to suit diverse, captive winter audiences.

We have selected a wide range of titles for January’s Hot Properties playlist on C21 Digital Screenings, which showcase programmes from leading global distributors, to revitalise new year schedules and entertain international viewers.

For buyers looking for scripted content to enhance their offering, January’s playlist doesn’t disappoint. ITV Studios’ The Pembrokeshire Murders is a true crime drama from the producers of global hit Bodyguard which brings to life the extraordinary cold-case pursuit of the most notorious serial killer in Welsh history.

More crime comes in the form of Private Eyes from Entertainment One, currently in production on its fifth season. The procedural sees private detectives, ex-professional sports player Matt Shade (Jason Priestley, Beverly Hills, 90210) and fierce PI Angie Everett (Cindy Sampson, Rookie Blue) investigating high-stakes cases of the week.

Other scripted series to make January’s playlist include The Red Room from Eccho Rights. Set in a therapist’s office and based on the real experiences of an Istanbul psychiatrist, episodes are built around the harrowing stories of the vulnerable female patients who seek treatment, while the team of therapists and their own personal issues form the centre of the drama. And in another take on the psychologist genre, Bavaria Media International’s Dr Dog charts innovative psychologist Paul and his therapy dog Käthe, who take on the tough cases even the patient has given up on.

Studio Hamburg’s Practice by the Sea follows Doctor Nora Kaminsky who wants to start a new life, joining her college buddy Dr Richard Freese in his doctors’ practice on the beautiful Island of Rügen, after her career as a doctor on a cruise ship derails. And comedy drama Finding Joy, from AMC Studios, asks audiences to take a break from the real world and enjoy the wonders of the orderly and structured Joy as she deals with a messy break-up. Season two follows Joy as she is reborn as an independent entrepreneur, struggling to establish her online brand.

More drama comes from Yellow, Black and White’s Gold Diggers, which explores the relationship between power, money and sex which thread through Russian society’s elite. The narrative unfolds as a female cop penetrates this world of wealth and luxury while investigating a crime, becoming completely seduced, which compromises her integrity but not her ambition to have it all.

Tin Star season three from Banijay Rights is the final drama to feature this month. Set against the stunning backdrop of Canada’s Rocky Mountains and dramatic windswept prairies, it tells the story of Jim Worth, former British detective and undercover cop, who has brought his family to Canada to create a better life. Starring Bafta winner Tim Roth and six-time Emmy nominee Christina Hendricks, the drama’s third run see Jim return to the UK city of Liverpool to confront a sinister truth.

For buyers in the unscripted space, January’s playlist showcases a mix of must-see content.

Stormborn from Blue Ant Media sees Golden Globe winner Ewan McGregor lend his voice to the highly anticipated, blue-chip natural history series. Set against the wild background of the Northern Atlantic Ocean, it follows otters, arctic foxes, grey seals, reindeer, puffins and orcas as they work to make homes, find mates and raise their young before the return of the winter darkness.

ZDF’s Bushfire Animal Rescue offers more natural history as it focuses on wildlife survivors beginning their long journeys to recovery in the ashes of Australia’s devastating bushfires. The series follows iconic species like koalas, kangaroos and wombats through their rescue, rehabilitation and eventual release, telling remarkable tales of compassion and dedication. Sea Life Savers from Ruptly Documentary Collection follows the government of Gabon in Africa as it teams up with militant conservation group Sea Shepherd to put an end to marine poaching, no matter how extreme the tactics.

For buyers in the doc space, The Weekly: Special Edition from Red Arrow Studios International is a powerful new collection of standalone premium documentaries driven by the unparalleled journalism and insight of The New York Times. In Danube: Against the Flow from Passion Distribution journalist Nick Thorpe portrays the Danube River and the people who live along it in all their glory and good humour.

For channels looking to add some competition to the mix, Tim Allen: Assembly Required from A+E sees Home Improvement stars Allen and Richard Karn reunite for a new competition series that spotlights the best and brightest builders from across the country. In their home workshops, these skilled individuals roll up their sleeves and compete to breathe new life into everyday household items in desperate need of fixing.

Still in the property space, Property Brothers: Forever Home from Cineflix offers more for fans of the genre. In this renovation series, Drew and Jonathan Scott change the lives of families by helping them unlock the potential of the home they’re already in. Jaw-dropping transformations turn drab properties into dazzling showpieces and take the deserving homeowners on an emotional journey.

In culinary content, Cook Like a Chef from Gusto features a diverse cast of four expert chefs with distinguished culinary backgrounds who inspire viewers how to cook, not what to cook, in this modern live-to-tape reboot.

January’s playlist also showcases several titles for younger and family audiences. Wonderama from TVS, hosted by David Osmond, is an award-winning variety show for kids and their families. The fast-paced series blends musical performances, science experiments, cooking demonstrations, messy games and fun facts in every episode. Meanwhile, The Adventures of Paddington from StudioCanal sees the franchise return in a brand new format for the whole family, following the worldwide success of the Paddington films.

Welcome to Earth from Serious Lunch is a new comedy for 6-8s from Oscar-winning studio Zeilt Productions which charts the adventures of two ankle-high aliens, Mish and Klaus, as they compete to find the perfect HQ from which to rule Earth. The Inbestigators from Australian Children’s Television Foundation sees Maudie, a 10-year-old puzzle prodigy, form a detective agency with her classmates Ezra, Ava and Kyle, where no crime is left unsolved. Cake’s non-dialogue series Angry Birds Bubble Trouble follows a younger version of the iconic Angry Birds in a garden where everything is possible.

Finally, Angel’s Day from Russia’s Channel Five is a children’s reality format that makes the dreams of orphaned children come true on their birthdays, with gifts, surprises and fun.

Enjoy the Hot Properties playlist for January 2021!