Off The Fence makes first content deals as part of World Storytelling Media

Afanti Media is making Dark Waters for S4C and BBC Wales

MIPCOM: European distribution group Off The Fence (OTF) has unveiled a trio of content licensing partnerships under its new owner, World Storytelling Media Group (WSMG)

The WSMG umbrella brand launched last month following Insight TV’s acquisition of OTF’s assets lifting it out of bankruptcy, but shuttering OTF’s production arm in the process.

One of them is a partnership with Welsh prodco Afanti Media on the documentary Dark Waters (1×60’/1×90’), made for S4C and BBC Wales.

The film, which is in production and due out in 2026, is timed to coincide with the 30-year anniversary of the Sea Empress oil disaster in 1996, which saw 72,000 tonnes of crude oil spilled off the coast of Wales.

In a separate deal, OTF has partnered with true crime specialist Enderley Pictures on the upcoming docuseries Staged: Deadly Deceptions (10×60’), which has already been pre-sold to Hearst Networks EMEA’s channel Crime & Investigation.

The series, also due for delivery in 2026, examines cases that look like straightforward accidents, suicides or random acts of violence, until investigators start pulling at the seams and the carefully constructed cover stories unravel.

OTF already distributes other Enderly true crime titles including Forging Fate: The Disappearing Art Deal (1×60’), The Amazon Review Killer (2×60’) and The Sex Trafficker’s Wife (2×60’).

The third deal involves distribution rights to a second season of Wild Battleground (4×60’), from Australian prodco Wildbear Entertainment.

Originally produced for RTL in Germany, the series focuses on “nature’s ultimate warzones,” where wild animals meet and clash in their fight for survival. Using military metaphors, each episode examines the tactics employed by both predator and prey.

OTF distributed the first series of Wild Battleground in 2023, clocking up sales worldwide, including to Hearst in the US; Blue Ant Media for the UK, Eire, Australia and New Zealand; Knowledge Network in Canada; Viasat World in Central and Eastern Europe; Mediaset in Italy; France Télévisions; RTVE in Spain; and Discovery in India.

“A heartfelt thank-you to our incredible partners for their trust and support as we embark on this exciting new chapter alongside our sister company, Insight TV,” said Loren Baxter, OTF’s VP of acquisitions.