A+E UK, Foxtel dig up Spiky Gold

Spiky Gold Hunters centres on New Zealand’s sea urchin hunters

A+E Networks UK, The History Channel Iberia and Foxtel in Australia have pre-bought new factual entertainment series Spiky Gold Hunters from Australia-based distributor LGI Media.

Spiky Gold Hunters is a 6×60′ observational reality series produced by Pango Productions in Auckland and originally commissioned by TV New Zealand.

The series follows a team of free divers as they battle the seas in an attempt to catch one of the world’s finest, most in-demand and expensive delicacies – a unique sea urchin found off the coast of New Zealand, known to fine diners as the gastronomic equivalent of gold.

A+E Networks UK and The History Channel Iberia have pre-bought Spiky Gold Hunters for their joint-venture entertainment channel Blaze, as has Foxtel-owned A&E in Australia.

Viasat World has also acquired the series for the Viasat Explore channel across CEE, Russia CIS and the Nordics.

Sam Thompson, VP of international distribution and coproductions at LGI Media, said: “This has been an amazing journey into a rarely glimpsed world of free-dive fishing in New Zealand. It’s definitely ‘tough jobs’ as we see it but to the divers who are putting their lives on the line, there are no guarantees! The stakes are high in this series and the environment is harsh.”

Bailey Mackey, CEO of Pango Productions, added: “Combined with beautiful scenery, authentic characters and the intrinsic danger element you have an incredible series.”