eOne launches Oz drama arm

Canadian distributor and producer Entertainment One (eOne) is opening a TV drama production arm in Australia and New Zealand.

Jude Troy

Jude Troy will run the Sydney-based TV development and production shingle, working with Stuart Baxter, president, eOne Television International, and Carrie Stein, executive VP of global productions.

Troy told C21 she would be sourcing “high-end pedigree projects, great stories with international currency and distinctive voices.”

Formerly eOne’s MD for home entertainment, she takes the newly created role of executive VP of TV development and acquisitions for Australia and New Zealand. She remains in charge of home entertainment acquisitions locally and will continue to play a role in theatrical acquisitions.

Commercial manager of home entertainment Jo Mandatis will expand her duties to include Troy’s home entertainment responsibilities for Australasia.

EOne Television CEO John Morayniss said the move was “a natural extension of our global content objectives as we build on our strong film platform to connect more directly to the talented television community in that part of the world.”

EOne Films Australia MD Troy Lum added: “Australian TV drama is in its prime right now and there is a real appetite for pedigree scripted drama globally.

“Jude brings excellent relationships with producers and sales agents and has a great understanding of the local broadcast environment and the evolving landscape worldwide.”

Troy had acquired local rights to franchises including Life on Mars, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Hustle, the Inbetweeners, Miranda, Hannibal and Rectify, plus Australian dramas The Slap, The Broken Shore and forthcoming indigenous series Project CM (working title) from Goalpost Pictures and New Zealand’s Pukeko Pictures.

She added: “With distribution in virtually every market as well as home entertainment divisions to support this, we are in an ideal place to attract the finest talent and premium projects from Australia and New Zealand, growing the company locally and feeding into the international eOne pipeline.”

EOne recently restructured its international TV sales and distribution team in several key markets to expand the division’s reach.