Blue Ant eyes Blink 4K factual

MIPTV: Canada’s Blue Ant Media and the UK’s Blink Films have joined forces in a multi-year 4K production and distribution output deal.

Vanessa Case

The agreement will see Blink Films produce seven 4K natural-history series for factual linear and SVoD channel Love Nature, a joint venture between Blue Ant Media and Smithsonian Networks.

Blink has already produced 30 hours of content for Love Nature, as well as the documentary series The Missing Evidence for Smithsonian Channel Canada in 2015.

The deal will add 24 hours of new premium wildlife and nature programming to Love Nature, which Blue Ant Media’s exec VP of content, Vanessa Case, says already holds the largest 4K natural-history offering on the market.

Production is due to start this month on location in South America, Hungary, Austria and South Africa over the next two years.

Distribution arm Blue Ant International holds worldwide distribution rights, and the new content will be available in 2019.