ITVSGE strikes Gold, Bay deals

Morven Christie in The Bay

MIPTV: The distribution arm of ITV Studios has secured worldwide sales for titles on its latest drama slate, which is headlined by crime drama The Bay and relationship thriller Gold Digger.

ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVSGE) has sold The Bay to France Télévisions, Seven Network in Australia, TVNZ in New Zealand, KT Corp in Korea, Virgin Media Ireland, TV4 in Sweden, NRK in Norway, DR in Denmark and YLE in Finland.

The Tall Story Pictures production, starring Morven Christie, is currently airing in the UK on ITV, where it launched to 7.2 million consolidated viewers.

Meanwhile, Gold Digger, from Mainstreet Pictures, has been picked up by broadcasters including France Télévisions, Seven Network in Australia and TVNZ in New Zealand.

Elsewhere, KT Corp in Korea, ARD in Germany, NPO in the Netherlands and VRT in Belgium have all acquired Swedish drama Hunters, from SF Studios and Harmonica Films, while Norwegian drama Kieler Street, from Anagram Norway, has been picked up by Sweden’s SVT and KT Corp in Korea.

Finally, English- and Swedish-language crime thriller Rig 45, produced by Mopar Studios, has been sold to Starzplay for the US, UK, Germany and France, African SVoD service Showmax, KT Corp, U-Next in Japan and VRT.

Ruth Berry, MD of ITVSGE, said: “Outstanding British drama is in our heritage and the spring 2019 slate, including The Bay, Gold Digger and recent Series Mania Grand Prize winner The Virtues, has yet again raised our game. However, as the tastes of global viewers adapt, non-English-language drama is increasingly important.”