NEWS & FEATURES

• Passion digs up 1000 Years of History
  Passion Distribution has picked up international rights to UK broadcaster Channel 5’s ambitious documentary series 1000 Years of History as part of a slate of over 100 hours of new factual programming.
• CBS All Access orders comedy crime doc
  ViacomCBS-owned SVoD service CBS All Access has ordered a comedic documentary series that follows the real-life search for a Canadian man who went missing in the 1930s.
• Buffett backs EW Scripps, ION deal
  US syndication giant EW Scripps has acquired broadcast network ION Media for US$2.65bn in a deal backed by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway.
• HBO Max to reboot Pretty Little Liars
  WarnerMedia-owned SVoD service HBO Max has commissioned a reboot of teen mystery drama series Pretty Little Liars.
• Mongol TV goes Dancing with the Stars
  Mongolian broadcaster Mongol TV has ordered a local version of hit competition format Dancing with the Stars from BBC Studios.
• ITV America’s Sirens takes on Baddies
  ITV America-owned prodco Sirens Media has partnered with 16-year-old actor Marsai Martin and her production banner Genius Entertainment on an unscripted series about trailblazing black women in the US.
• Gaumont preps Mexican music drama
  French prodco Gaumont is developing a Spanish-language drama series that chronicles the peak of the Rock en Español movement during the turbulent mid-90s in Mexico City.
• AMC expands SVoD president's role
  AMC Networks in the US has expanded the role of SVoD president Miguel Penella, adding AMC+ to the portfolio of streaming services he oversees.
• Rallie offers Pacific Blue in HD
  NEWS BRIEF: LA-based distributor Rallie has picked up worldwide distribution rights to the 16:9 HD version of 1990s USA Network beachside cop drama Pacific Blue.
• Maria Theresa travels with Walter
  Walter Presents has acquired the rights to Austrian drama Maria Theresa for its service in the UK, New Zealand and North America.
• Int'l nets conduct The Love Experiment
  Australian prodco Media Stockade has struck the first licence deals for a format based on a psychological experiment designed to encourage intimacy between strangers.
• HBO Europe stocks drama originals
  HBO Europe has started production on original dramas in Romania and Poland, while renewing its Norwegian scripted series Beforeigners for a second season.
• First Option drama spotlights Aussie unionist
  Australia’s First Option Pictures has unveiled its maiden project, a TV drama series inspired by the true story of the Australian who became a champion of the labour movement in the US.
• Indian Dr Foster gets second run
  Disney+ Hotstar in India has ordered a second season of its local adaptation of BBC psychological drama Doctor Foster.
• Cineflix shops Ordinary Woman S2
  NEWS BRIEF: UK-based distributor Cineflix Rights has added a second season of Russian drama An Ordinary Woman, from 1-2-3 Production and Look Film, to its catalogue.
• Open TV realises Life Isn’t Everything
  Greek broadcaster Open TV has commissioned a local adaptation of Israeli sitcom Life Isn’t Everything from ITV Studios-owned Armoza Formats.
• CBBC takes second stroll down Scream Street
  UK pubcaster the BBC’s children’s channel CBBC has picked up the second season of stop-motion animated series Scream Street from Coolabi Group.
• NPACT sets up Covid safety hotline
  US non-fiction producers’ association NPACT has launched an online hotline for the anonymous reporting of health and safety protocol issues in unscripted production during the pandemic.
• Ex-Jam Media execs form start-up
  A trio of former Jam Media executives, including Chris Dicker and John Reynolds, have set up a production company specialising in children's and family content.
• WildBrain takes Tom Gates rights
  Canada-based children’s content giant WildBrain has acquired the worldwide distribution rights, excluding the UK, to upcoming kids’ series The Brilliant World of Tom Gates.

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