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UK Screenings 2019
                                     TBIvision.com   February/March 2019

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UK Screenings 2019 TBIvision.com February/March 2019 - TBI Vision
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UK Screenings 2019 TBIvision.com February/March 2019 - TBI Vision
UK Screenings 2019
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        C
          London calling                                                                         Contents                                                                                                               2

                                         This year marks the first time TBI has                  2          UK TV stats unpacked                                                                                        BB
                                         put our market-leading UK Screenings                               As high-end TV production spend reaches unprecedented levels,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4
                                         issue in print – a move that ought                                 we crunch the numbers on what’s coming and going
                                         to tell you plenty about the growing
                                         prominence of the event, and what it                    4          BBC Showcase                                                                                                6
                                         means for distributors in our backyard.                            Your guide to BBC Studios’ drama, comedy, factual, fact ent and
                                            ITV Studios Global Entertainment’s                              formats offerings for 2019                                                                                  8
                                         Ruth Berry nails it when she astutely
                                         points out that you can no longer “save                 13         UK distributors
                                         your ‘ta-da!’ moment” in today’s TV                                Inside the slates of ITVS GE, All3Media, Fremantle, Warner                                                  10
                                         climate: the conveyor belt of content                              Bros., Lionsgate, Cineflix, Passion and TVF
          stops for no one, and no market. Just look at the staggering £1.2bn in                                                                                                                                        UK
          high-end TV production spend out of the UK in 2018.                                    24         Distributors: the new marketeers?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        13
             As such, what began as BBC Studios’ dazzling charm offensive                                   Netflix spent $2.37bn in marketing last year. How can distributors
          for international buyers has quickly become a must-do event for                                   keep up?
          distributors big and small, with businesses now methodically speaking                                                                                                                                         14
          to one another to plan their own content showcases accordingly.                        28         Last Word
          (Check out our handy schedule on page 13 for who’s doing what and                                 Lilla Hurst, Drive                                                                                          16
          when).
             This year, international buyers will have their pick of premium
          offerings, with top titles including BBC Studios’ long-awaited Good                                                                                                                                           17
          Omens, Warner Bros. International Television Production’s World’s
          Best, Cineflix Rights’ An Ordinary Woman and Passion Distribution’s                                                                                                                                           18
          Mums Make Porn just a few of the punchy titles sure to impress buyers.
             Elsewhere in the issue, distributors such as DRG’s Richard                                                                                                                                                 20
          Halliwell raise the alarm about the importance of effective marketing
          to cut through in a 496-scripted show universe, with Endemol Shine                                                                                                                                            21
          International’s Cathy Payne stressing how distributors need to care for
          content across a series run – not just prior to launch.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        20
             For now, a big welcome to all the buyers congregating in Liverpool
          and London this month, and best of luck to our friends in distribution.
          Happy Screenings from TBI.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        21

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        24

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          For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM                                                                             TBI UK Screenings February/March 2019 1

p01 Contents + Ed Note FebMar19MCMRKBFINAL.indd 3                                                                                                                                                    07/02/2019 18:15
UK Screenings 2019 TBIvision.com February/March 2019 - TBI Vision
DATA UK TV EXPORTS

                Boom time for
                high-end TV                                                                £497m
                                                                                           +16%

                                                                                 USA
               As we begin 2019, it’s important to take
               stock of the numbers. The last reported
               TV export figures for the UK are from
               Pact, which shows that estimated total
               revenues for 2016/17 added up to £902m.                      £1.3m£335m
                                                                                   US
                                                                             -7%
               The US, Australia, France, Germany and
               the Nordics were the UK’s largest export
               markets (as shown on the right), followed                  MEXICO
               by Western Europe, Canada, China, Italy
               and Central Europe.
                                                                                                                       £3.4m
               Genres that made the most sales included
               entertainment (£44m), factual (£43m),
                                                                                               BRAZIL                   -5%
               kids (38m) and drama (£16m).

               The British Film Institute (BFI) also
               recently launched its 2018 interim figures
               on the impact of screen sector tax relief
               implemented by the UK government
               in 2013 across high-end TV, animation,
               films, kids’ TV and gaming.
                                                                                 The amount of UK high-end TV
               The findings show that the combined                             titles that benefitted from inward
               spend on high-end TV and film                                investment and co-production in 2018
               production in the UK reached £3.1bn, the
               second-highest year on record following
               2017’s record performance of £3.28bn.
                                                                                          64
               High-end TV, which is defined as a
               drama or documentary with a per hour                           Deutschland 83
                                                                                                                                For high-end TV, growth
               budget of £1m, pulled £794.5m in inward
                                                                                                                                 in inward investment
               investment, down by 2% on 2017’s
                                                                           {
                                                                                                                               was largely due to global
               consolidated spend of £810.7m. The
                                                                                                                               content providers such as
               interim spend at this point last year was,
                                                                                                                                  Netflix and Amazon
               however, £684m. An overall £1.2bn was
               spent on the production of qualifying

                                                                                           GLOBAL
               high-end programming in 2018.

          2 TBI UK Screenings February/March 2019                                                  For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM

p02-03 Production stats UK Screenings FebMar19 copyKBMCMRKBFINAL.indd 2                                                                                 07/02/2019 18:41
UK Screenings 2019 TBIvision.com February/March 2019 - TBI Vision
DATA UK TV EXPORTS

                                                                                                                                       UK’s most
                                                                                                                                    exported shows
       £902m                                                                                                                                      The C
                                                                                                                                                       ro

     Total export

                                                                                                                                                        w
                                                                                                                                                             n
      revenues
                                                                                                                                                      LY
                                                                                                                                                 LOBAL
                                                                                                                                           SOLD G

                                                                                                                                                  Outla
                                                                                                                                                       nd

                           £51m

                                                                                                                                                        er
                             Nordics
                                                                                                      £15m                             SOLD GL
                                                                                                                                              OBALLY
                                                                                                      +48%

                                                                                                           JAPAN
                  £52m                                 £15m                                                                                       Plane
                                                                                                                                                       tE
                   Germany                             +43%                                    China

                                                                                                                                                        ar
              £60m

                                                                                                                                                           th
                                                                                                                                                             II
               France                                                                  Most producers told Pact they are
                                                           INDIA                   confident that their revenue would grow
                                                                                                                                                       RIES
                                                                                     in 2017/18, with a particular focus on                       RRITO
                                                                                                                                            233 TE
                                                                                             increased sales in China.
                                                                                       We saw this in action in 2018, with                        Sherl
                                                                                    Fremantle, Endemol Shine and CBS all                               oc
                                                                                                                                                         k
          £13m                                                                           striking deals with the territory
          +18%                                                                                      £131.6m
                                                                                                      -7%                              230
                                                                                                                                           TER
                                                                                                                                              RITO
  SOUTH                                                                                                        AUSTRALASIA                        RIES

  AFRICA                                                                                                                                          Mids
                                                                                                                                                      om

                                                                                                                                                        er
                                       £1.2bn
                                                                                                                                                           M urders
                                                                                                                                                       IES
                                                                                                                                                   ITOR
                                        +4%                                                                                                228 T
                                                                                                                                                ERR

                                The amount spent on the
                                production of high-end TV
                                  programmes in the UK                                                                        £73m
                                                                                                                               Australia
                                                                              £794.5m
                                                                                -2%
                                                                             The amount of inward
        £794.5m                                                               investment and co-
                                                                                                    Aquarius
                                                                                                                    Midsomer
                                                                                                                     Murders

      Total inward                                                          production that came in
                                                                          from international markets
       investment
                              200+                                                                             100+  Source: Pact TV Exports Report 2016/17,
                                                                                                                        BFI Screen Business report 2018
                                                                                                                                  SOURCE: Pact, TRP Research

          For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM                                                     TBI UK Screenings February/March 2019 3

p02-03 Production stats UK Screenings FebMar19 copyKBMCMRKBFINAL.indd 3                                                                                      07/02/2019 18:41
UK Screenings 2019 TBIvision.com February/March 2019 - TBI Vision
BBC STUDIOS SHOWCASE OVERVIEW

                                                                   Good Omens                                                                                     Top Gear

         BBC Studios’ new chapter
         President of global markets Paul Dempsey tells TBI how the annual Showcase event has evolved, and
         how the merged producer-distributor is navigating the new content landscape

         T
                      his year’s Showcase is, in many      2018, saw commercial distribution arm BBC           is simply another evolution for the business
                      ways, a landmark year for the        Worldwide unite with production banner BBC          as well as Showcase, which sees buyers from
                      UK’s public service broadcaster,     Studios, a move that is in line with an industry    all corners of the world fly in for four days of
                      which will, for the first time,      norm that has borne super-indies such as            screenings, panels and parties.
                      welcome more than 700 buyers         Endemol Shine Group, Fremantle, All3Media              “In the past, Showcase was a distribution
         to Liverpool under the newly merged BBC           International, Banijay Group and ITV Studios.       show where people looked at screeners and
         Studios banner.                                     Paul Dempsey, president of global markets         finished tape and did licensing deals based
           The merger, which completed in April            for BBC Studios, tells TBI that the merged entity   on finished product. But now, it increasingly

         4 TBI UK Screenings February/March 2019                                                    For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM

p04-05 BBC Dempsey UK Screenings Feb19MCMRKBFINAL.indd 4                                                                                                   07/02/2019 18:13
UK Screenings 2019 TBIvision.com February/March 2019 - TBI Vision
BBC STUDIOS SHOWCASE OVERVIEW

                                                                   On-demand future                                          SVOD involvement

                                                                   This year’s Showcase – the 43rd annual event              At the 2018 showcase, BBC Studios hosted its
                                                                   – also comes at a time when conversations                 largest delegation of digital clients, including
                                                                   around rights ownership reaches new levels,               the likes of Google, Apple, Netflix, Microsoft,
                                                                   with dialogues around branding and windowing              Facebook-Oculus and Amazon, in addition to
                                                                   being front of mind for producers, broadcasters           regional SVODs and telcos such as Showmax,
                                                                   and distributors, including BBC Studios.                  Stan, Deutsche Telecom, iflix and Hulu.
                                                                      Dempsey has spoken out previously about                   This year, Dempsey says that the Asian BATs
                                                                   the extensive discussions needed to retain                – an acronym of stock listings for Baidu, Alibaba
                                                                   attribution for distributors and producers, and           Group and Tencent – are “equally significant” to
                                                                   says the business has developed “an expertise             the business as the FAANG players.
                                                                   and sophistication in understanding the value of             Indeed, BBC Studios’ relationship with China
                                                                   our IP across different windows”.                         has only gone from strength to strength in recent
                                                                      “We are clear in the way we look at different          years.
                                                                   scenarios and how we exploit rights, and if you’re           At last year’s Showcase, the business struck a
                                                                   doing something globally versus regionally,” he           deal with Chinese mobile video platform Migu
                                                                   says. But ultimately, “there is no blueprint for it.”     Video for more than 2,200 hours of BBC content
                                                                      As for how the BBC’s recent public                     across factual, lifestyle and pre-school.
                                                       Serengeti
                                                                   consultation on the reinvention of the iPlayer               More recently, BBC Studios launched fan
                                                                   on-demand service – a proposal that could see             community BBC Earth Tribe with Chinese
                                                                   all programmes on the platform made available             digital giant Tencent – a deal that will see more
                                                                   for at least 12 months, with complete series              than 650 hours of BBC Studios’ natural history
                                                                   box-sets for certain titles available for longer,         and documentary programmes such as Dynasties
                                                                   alongside archive – Dempsey says talks are                and Rituals placed on the platform, alongside
                                                                   underway.                                                 Q&As with BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit
                                                                      “There’s some discussion at the moment                 producers.
                                                                   about what the extension might be, but any                   “Attendance from those communities is up
                                                                   decision we make, we will do as a group and it            this year,” says Dempsey. “More of the people
                                                                   will be in the interest of the license fee payer,” he     registered are reps at a senior level, and more
                                                                   says.                                                     new potential customers are coming this year as
                                                                      “It’s a significant area, especially for the UK and    opposed to last year. It’s a good opportunity for
                                                                   the UK’s public-service broadcasters to ensure            them to efficiently speak to a wide range of our
                                                                   that value for our audience is maintained.”               producers and account managers.” TBI
                                                                      Meanwhile, just over a month after Showcase
                                                                   wraps and the industry gets ready to descend on

Gear                                    Don’t Forget The Driver
                                                                   Cannes for MIPTV, a cliff edge awaits for the UK           TBI’s ones to watch
                                                                   in the form of Brexit.
                                                                      While channels businesses such as Discovery             One Planet: Seven Worlds
                enables us to do a whole range of things, from     have already begun rolling out relocation                  David Attenborough will present the BBC
                selling tape to talking about projects that are    strategies – with applications underway for                One landmark natural history effort, from BBC
                some years in gestation,” explains Dempsey.        new broadcast licenses in the Netherlands for              Studios Natural History Unit, BBC America,
                   The shift in the buying patterns of BBC         Discovery’s European pay-TV channel portfolio              Tencent, ZDF and France Télévisions
                Studios customers now makes Showcase an            – Dempsey says BBC Studios has “genuinely
                event that “talks about the future,” says the      spent time looking at this”, and is not concerned.         Sanditon
                exec. However, “it is more challenging in terms       “We haven’t identified any obstacles related            Red Planet Pictures’ adaptation of the Jane
                of what materials you can provide, and how you     to our content sales or production businesses.             Austen novel for ITV follows a plucky young
                can give customers greater insight into what       Nothing that could get in the way of us doing              woman and her barbed relationship
                those shows might be.”                             business with customers in the EU,” he says,
                   Ultimately, the merger now enables              adding that he doesn’t foresee anything that               Dementia Choir
                the business to function more holistically,        could seriously impact the distribution business.          Curve Media embarks on a scientific
                better joining up conversations between the           “However, we will keep the channels business            experiment to determine whether music
                distribution and sales team and producers, who     and that situation under close review and be alert         therapy can change the lives of dementia
                can operate in the same rooms as opposed to        as to what is happening. But from what we know,            patients.
                holding separate meetings.                         we don’t see any obstacles.”

                For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM                                                           TBI UK Screenings February/March 2019 5

       p04-05 BBC Dempsey UK Screenings Feb19MCMRKBFINAL.indd 5                                                                                                             07/02/2019 18:13
UK Screenings 2019 TBIvision.com February/March 2019 - TBI Vision
BBC STUDIOS SHOWCASE SCRIPTED

         Going upstream for premium
         The BBC Studios merger has allowed scripted execs to get closer to IP much earlier in the game
         – a strategy that is paying dividends across drama and comedy
                                                                                                                   Comedy goes up a notch

                                                                                                                   Elsewhere, Jonathan Blyth, director of comedy,
                                                                                                                   says this year’s slate – which boasts talent
                                                                                                                   such as Steve Coogan, Toby Jones and Jesse
                                                                                                                   Armstrong – is the “strongest we’ve ever had”.
                                                                                                                      “There’s a real breadth and depth this year,”
                                                                                                                   he says. “There is a good mix of returning
                                                                                                                   series such as Hold the Sunset, Sick of It and
                                                                                                                   White Gold, but also some brilliant new shows.”
                                                                                                                      Among the headliners are Ghosts, Dead
                                                                                                                   Pixels, Don’t Forget the Driver and Defending the
                                                                                                                   Guilty.
                                                                                                                      Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong’s part-
                                                                                                                   animated comedy Dead Pixels, written by John
                                                                                                                   Brown, follows a ragtag group of gamers from
                                                                                                                   London unable to sort out their lives outside of
                                                                                                                   the virtual world. The programme is to launch
                                                                                                         Pure
                                                                                                                   a new comedy block on E4 this spring.

         A
                                                                                                                      “It has global appeal and will find an exciting
                           s a result of the BBC Studios      backed SVOD Britbox out of the US, France            niche in America – it’s a very SVOD-friendly
                           merger, conversations for          Televisions and Germany’s ZDF.                       show,” says Blyth, explaining that its “youthful
                           scripted programming are              “There are a lot of partners, but the authorial   nature” will help its chances of finding a
                           now further “upstream”, with       voice is [The Good Karma Hospital writer] Dan        streaming home.
                           the distributor coming in          Sefton,” says Keelan.                                   Another strong offering is Monumental
         much earlier in the development chain around            Other stand-outs include Kirstie Swain’s          Pictures’ Ghosts, a comedy-horror for BBC One
         sourcing new IP and helping production               Channel 4 relationship drama Pure; Andrew            with “dark moments” reminiscent of Netflix’s
         partners.                                            Davies’ adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sanditon,        A Series Of Unfortunate Events.
            Newly appointed scripted portfolio director       from Red Planet Pictures and Masterpiece                Also on the slate is BBC Two’s Don’t Forget
         Liam Keelan explains that his job now revolves       Theatre; Stephen Poliakoff’s BBC Two Cold            the Driver from Sister Pictures, which follows
         around “getting closer to the production side”       War drama Summer Of Rockets; and BBC                 a bus driver in a seaside town who must
         in relationships with third-party drama, comedy      Studios’ Good Omens, a co-production between         re-evaluate the country on a trip back from
         and children’s producers as well as BBC Studios      BBC One and Amazon.                                  France, as well as BBC Two’s Defending The
         Productions.                                            Keelan highlights that FAANG players such         Guilty, a modern relationship comedy from Big
            “We are opening doors where we can in the         as Netflix and Amazon are “keen as ever” on          Talk Productions.
         UK, US and abroad. It’s a slightly different         co-productions with the public broadcaster,             Blyth points out that all the headline
         expanded portfolio, but it is predominantly          dispelling concerns from producers such as           comedies are big-budget “tax credit-level”
         about getting to IP.”                                Jane Featherstone about the “co-pro tap” being       shows. “They’re not quite at the level of drama,
            Working with the best of British talent is what   turned off.                                          but they are pushing up that way. TBI
         separates the business, says Keelan, noting             “It has not been my experience thus far,” he
         that 99% of output “has a British element to         says. “I was out in LA and met with Amazon
         it”. “We are working with the best writers in        and Netflix and they’re still keen to get involved
         the community and giving a voice to new and          in BBC Studios output. They recognise the
         diverse writers.”                                    quality and range of talent that we have on and
            Top scripted priorities include 10-part crime     off screen.”
         procedural The Mallorca Files (Cosmopolitan             Many of the SVOD execs are coming to
         Pictures/Clerkenwell Films), a BBC Daytime           Showcase to continue conversations around
                                                                                                                                                      Dead Pixels
         commission that also involves BBC Studios-           new projects, says Keelan.

         6 TBI UK Screenings February/March 2019                                                        For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM

p06 BBC Drama UK Screenings FebMar19MCMRKBFINAL.indd 6                                                                                                           07/02/2019 18:21
UK Screenings 2019 TBIvision.com February/March 2019 - TBI Vision
COMING 2019

p07 ITV FebMar19.indd 1                 07/02/2019 19:21
UK Screenings 2019 TBIvision.com February/March 2019 - TBI Vision
BBC STUDIOS SHOWCASE FORMATS

           Feel-good formats are still driving
           audiences, and BBC Studios’ formats
           team meets the demand with a
           playalong quiz show and warm,
           social issue-driven fact ent formats

           World of
           Wonder                                                                                                                     My Big Day: Home And Away

         W
                                     arm and authentic fare      cash, so there are interesting dynamics at play,”   public performance. While the programme was
                                     continues to dominate       says Connock.                                       originally a two-parter for BBC One, Connock
                                     the formats market,            At Showcase, buyers will be given a              says it could be extended into a longer run.
                                     with           audiences    WonderBall in their goodie bags, and have the          “It’s not a format that is dependent on talent
                                     craving         feel-good   chance to try out the format themselves and win     – it could work without because it’s really about
         programming that is heavy on positivity and             prizes.                                             the choir and their stories,” she says.
         light on conflict. BBC Studios looks to deliver            Elsewhere, Irish broadcaster RTE1’s 5 x             Elsewhere, Connock says it is “just the
         with a physical gameshow that lends itself to           60-minute wedding format My Big Day: Home           beginning” for BBC Studios’ scripted formats,
         family viewing and two fact ent formats.                And Away offers close-ended episodes that find      which had recent success with international
            Mighty Productions’ Lynne Sutcliffe and              couples figuring out whether to wed at home or      adaptations of Doctor Foster and Luther.
         Hugh Rycroft – creators of Weakest Link and             opt for a destination wedding.                         “We’ve got world-class dramas with really
         Tipping Point – are back with WonderBall, a                Couples are introduced to two top wedding        strong, impeccably defined characters, and what
         30-episode playalong quiz show from BBC                 planners who go head-to-head to convince the        we’ve found is that big characters give you really
         Scotland that Sumi Connock, creative director           couple that they have the best vision. While one    big successes,” says Connock.
         of formats, describes as a “reverse lotto”.             will push for a venue near home, the other will        A scripted formats session at Showcase
            “Usually, you want your balls to come out and        plan an elaborate event in an exotic overseas       will discuss key trends, as well as how clients
         be picked, but the last thing you want here is for      location.                                           can create local versions and what they can
         your ball to be selected,” she explains.                   Connock calls the primetime format               expect from BBC Studios around expertise and
            Three teams of two players are each given five       “completely universal” and capable of “travelling   consultancy.
         numbered balls, which are drawn at random.              really well”, adding that it will be shopped as        The business will also launch new comedy
         Players are then asked questions and try to             both a format and finished tape.                    format Stath Lets Flats, which aired on Channel
         eliminate their opponents’ balls and keep theirs           Next up is Curve Media’s social experiment       4 last year and has been renewed for a second
         in the game. The last remaining ball is the             Dementia Choir, which is also being offered in      series.
         WonderBall, and if the question is answered             the fact ent catalogue as finished tape.               “This show really works for us because it’s
         correctly, the jackpot is theirs for the taking.           The series finds actress Vicky McClure –         that classic comedy set-up, centered around a
            “It’s a high-volume, low-cost show. There are        who has a personal connection to the disease        family business, and Stath is that sitcom hero
         also a few twists along the way, where contestants      – recruiting people with dementia to perform        with no self-awareness and big dreams,” says
         are asked if they want to trade in their balls for      in their own choir, leading up to their first       Connock. TBI

         8 TBI UK Screenings February/March      2019                                                     For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM

p08 BBC Formats UK Screenings FebMar19MCMRKBFINAL.indd 8                                                                                                           07/02/2019 18:24
A NEW 8 x 60 MIN SCRIPTED SERIES FROM THE CREATOR OF ROOKIE BLUE

                                                                         Distributed by:

p11 Cineflix TVI FebMar19.indd 1                                                           07/02/2019 19:04
BBC STUDIOS SHOWCASE FACTUAL AND FACT ENT

                                   Drone’s eye-view
                                   on natural history

           Innovative tech is elevating natural history offerings, while
           ‘premium’ is the name of the game across this year’s factual and
           fact ent programmes                                                                                                                Earth’s Greatest Rivers

         N
                              ewly appointed unscripted             Other natural history offerings include Earth     the journey, combining newly released sound
                              portfolio     director     Mark    from Space, which uses the latest technology to      archive with CGI and drama, while in the history
                              Reynolds says the merged           provide a fresh look at the planet; First Year on    space, Icons examines the impact significant
                              BBC Studios is “more focused       Earth, which combines animal photography             figures have had across the 20th century and the
                              on premium than ever” with a       with stories of survival; and animal drama           transformative cultural and societal shifts of the
          clear set of priorities across all genres, including   Serengeti, which tracks a year on the plains for a   period.
          natural history, science and history.                  group of animals.                                       One icon, in particular, comes into the
             In recent years, some of the BBC’s most                Meanwhile, Studios is growing its science         spotlight with David Bowie: Finding Fame, which
          premium, global-facing content has emerged             portfolio with The Planets, which Reynolds           uses original sound recordings and lost archive.
          from natural history, with the likes of Planet Earth   describes as having the “epic visual scale” of a        Meanwhile, BBC Studios’ documentaries slate
          II and Blue Planet II smashing ratings domestically    Hollywood movie combined with “dramatic              caters to a range of content, providing a “new take
          and selling well overseas. This year, Studios hopes    narratives” – all of which provide a new take on     or interesting talent that can give the viewer new
          to continue that story with Dynasties, which is        the solar system.                                    insight into an area they may think they know or
          “performing consistently with the success of Blue         The series is a co-production with US public      wouldn’t necessarily come to,” says Reynolds.
          Planet II”, according to Reynolds.                     broadcaster PBS, and co-produced with China’s           “Our documentaries are defined by the very
             Patricia Fearnley, head of natural history, also    Tencent and its Penguin Pictures division.           best access to people, places and institutions or
          highlights One Planet: Seven Worlds as a landmark         “We continue to work with a number of co-         they are authored by trusted presenters, making
          series that demonstrates the vast potential of         producers in both the US, Western Europe and         sure we offer an unbiased view and tell difficult
          cutting-edge drone technology in the genre.            Asia – some are very long-standing, while others     stories that the world’s audience needs to know,”
             “The use of drones and the new technology           are newer to this arena,” says Reynolds, noting      he adds, highlighting two-parter Our Dementia
          being applied to them has transformed the              that China is a key market for high-end specialist   Choir with actress Vicky McClure, showing the
          storytelling in this series,” she explains.            factual. Asia also happens to be a growth market     devastating effect the disease has on individuals
             “It has helped the team to ensure they can          for the distributor’s scripted formats business.     and their loved ones.
          deliver on new stories, species and locations             “A number of platforms such as Tencent,              Fact ent offerings aim to be “aspirational and
          because these drones can fly longer than ever          Migu and Youku are keen to work with us on our       smart with purpose” and this year includes The
          before, go further than ever before, and are           content,” says Reynolds.                             Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, along
          quieter and more stable than drones ever used to          Elsewhere, 8 Days marks the 50th anniversary      with returners such as The Great British Bake Off,
          be, which has opened up a world of opportunity.”       of the moon landing with a unique re-telling of      Sewing Bee and Old House, New Home. TBI

          10 TBI UK Screenings February/March      2019                                                    For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM

p10 BBC Factual UK Screenings FebMar19MCMRKBFINAL.indd 10                                                                                                            07/02/2019 18:27
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p12 Series Mania UK Screenings FebMar19.indd 1                                                    06/02/2019 17:43
DIARY BBC SHOWCASE/LONDON SCREENINGS

          Event                                             UK-based distributors are gearing up to show off their new

          schedule
                                                            slates to international buyers this February. Here, TBI gives
                                                            you the low-down on what’s happening and where.

           BBC Showcase                                      London Screenings
                                                                                                                                         I’m A
                                                                                                                                                 Ce
           Feb                                               Feb

         17-20                                              15

                                                                                                                                                  le
                                                                        ITV Studios Formats Festival

                                                                                                                                                    br i
                                                                                                                                                        ty....
                                                                        AM The Ham Yard Hotel, Soho

                                                                        Warner Bros. Formats Festival
           ACC Liverpool                                                PM The Ham Yard Hotel, Soho

                                                             20
           Sunday 17 February: 2-6 PM
                                                                        ITV Studios Drama Festival
           Monday 18 February: 8 AM - 6 PM
                                                                        PM Roundhouse, Camden
           Tuesday 19 February: 8 AM - 6 PM
           Wednesday 20 February: 8 AM - 12 PM
                                                                        Passion Distribution Showcase                                    Legen
                                                                                                                                                 ds
                                   Sereng
                                         eti                            4-6 PM The Ivy, Covent Garden

                                                                                                                                                   of
                                                                                                                                                      the Deep
                                                                        Cineflix Rights
                                                                        6-9 PM Archer Street Cocktail Bar, Soho

                                                                        TCB Media Rights
                                                                        7-10 PM Century Club, Soho

                                                             21         Endemol Shine - Deep Water
                                                                        10 AM Charlotte Street Hotel, Fitzrovia
                                                                                                                                         New S
                                                                                                                                                 pe

                                                                                                                                                   cie
                                                                                                                                                      s
                                                                        TVF International Showcase
                                                                        4-6 PM The Zari Gallery, Fitzrovia
                                   Summe
                                        r of
                                               Ro
                                                 ck
                                                   e                    Sony Pictures Television Unscripted
                                                   ts

                                                                        Formats Showcase
                                                                        5-7 PM Sony Pictures Europe House, Soho                          Fleab
                                                                                                                                              ag
                                                                                                                                                   2

                                                                        MGM Studios Presents
                                                                        AM/PM Curzon, Bloomsbury

                                                                        All3Media Drama Upfront
                                                                        AM/PM West End Cinema

                                                             22
                                                                                                                                         Bagh
                                                                                                                                              d   ad
                                                                        Fremantle
                                                                                                                                                      Ce

                                                                        AM The Ham Yard Hotel, Soho
                                                                                                                                                        ntral

                                                                        MGM Studios Presents
                                                                        AM/PM Curzon, Bloomsbury

          For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM                                               TBI UK Screenings February/March 2019 13

p13 Schedule UK Screenings FebMar19 V2MCMRKBFINAL.indd 13                                                                                                        07/02/2019 18:03
DISTRIBUTORS ITV STUDIOS

         ITV Studios sets up ‘bigger,
         ITV Studios Global Entertainment had a stellar debut
         drama event last year with an oversubscribed show that
         left an impression on buyers. This year, it plans to go
         ‘bigger and better’ with 400 guests set to arrive at the
         iconic Roundhouse in Camden, making it one of the largest
         screening events held this February

       “T
                                he main learning              creator’s work presented to the buyers that day,
                                from last year was to         according to Berry.
                                get more space,” says             ITVS GE’s headline act will be World War II
                                Ruth Berry, ITVS GE’s         drama World on Fire. The multifaceted drama
                                managing        director.     starring Helen Hunt will tell the story of the
         “And the feedback we got is that the buyers          war through the eyes of ordinary people across
         were really excited about just being immersed        Poland, Germany, the UK, France and the US.
         in the content via panels with the writers,              “It’s one of the most epic and powerful
         creators and producers.”                             dramas we’ve had in a while,” says Berry.
           These are elements the distributor is              “I’m excited to distribute a show that I think
                                                                                                                     ITV Studios
         keen to elevate for its 20 February event.           is so important for the world and for younger
                                                                                                                    Drama Festival
         The larger space has arrived in the form of          generations, helping shape the way they              Where: Roundhouse,
         the Roundhouse, where ITVS GE hopes to               understand history and getting their point of            Camden
         host another “immersive” event that reflects         view.”                                               When: February 20
         the vision of its creators. From lighting to             ITV’s Mammoth Screen will produce the
         music, every detail will attempt to mirror the       title for BBC One.

         The ITV Formats Festival was one of the first events to take advantage of the international buyers
         heading to the UK in February. Now hosting its seventh annual event, the distributor’s Global
         Creative Network MD, Mike Beale, reveals what’s to come

         T
                        opping a year of format success       spring. The premise of the game is simple:           ourselves as a formats business when I first
                        with Love Island will not be          contestants must not drop the ball while trying      joined. ITV was then seen as a channel and not
                        easy for ITV Studios, but the         to answer a string of questions.                     a distributor,” explains Beale.
                        distributor plans to kick off 2019       Meanwhile, Welsh broadcaster S4C’s                   “We’ve learnt a lot about what our buyers like
                        by introducing buyers to key titles   physical game show format The Chamber will           to get out of it over that time.”
         it believes will have a global impact.               also be screened.                                       “It enables us to showcase our formats more
            Heading up the Formats Festival slate will be        “The new shows to screen tackle their genres      fully and give context that the written word or
         Operation Live, a ground-breaking new series         in different ways from what’s available in the       promo alone cannot encapsulate. The fact that
         that takes viewers inside the operating theatre to   market place,” says Beale.                           the shows are also presented to them by the
         watch real-life procedures in real-time.                The Chamber, for example, will see contestants    original creators and producers gets to the heart
            Beale says the show led Channel 5 in the          take on a trampoline course in an abandoned          of the concepts.”
         UK to attract up to 25% audience share across        slate mine in North Wales. “The location, set up,       On top of giving buyers an exclusive look at
         several episodes and hopes this can be recreated     and the fact that it’s filmed in an underground      new launches for 2019, some of which will be
         worldwide. The format is to air in Australia as a    cave is all unique,” he explains.                    marketed at MIPTV, ITV will also update them
         two-night event series.                                 With 200-plus buyers set to attend ITV’s          on the continued success of evergreen titles
            The title will be joined by visual game show      latest Formats Festival, Beale tells TBI the event   such as I’m A Celebrity, Hell’s Kitchen and Come
         Catchpoint, a family-friendly game show              has been growing in attendance year-on-year, up      Dine with Me.
         combining physical fun with a new question           40 buyers from the 160 attendees last year.             For the most part, Beale says this year’s
         mechanic that launches on BBC One this                  “We started the screenings to reposition          screenings will be business as usual, where the

         14 TBI UK Screenings February/March 2019                                                       For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM

p14-15 ITV UK Screenings FebMar19MCMRKBMHFINAL.indd 14                                                                                                          07/02/2019 19:31
DISTRIBUTORS ITV STUDIOS

         better’ showcase
                                                                  Another Mammoth title, Noughts & Crosses,      UK screenings have become all the more
                                                                based on Malorie Blackman’s bestselling          important for the distributor.
                                                                novels, is also on the slate. The drama will        “We work with a stable of phenomenal
                                                                focus on a young romance set in a world          producers who produce content all
                                                                where the black race is dominant.                year round. Our slate’s getting bigger
                                                                  “It’s a really exciting project. It’s          and stronger, therefore we need points
                                                                international. We’ve gotten a lot of interest    throughout the year to sell them,” Berry
                                                                from international buyers on that and we’re      explains.
                                                                excited to immerse them deeper into the             “Historically, people have focused on two
                                                                series as they haven’t seen much of it yet,”     key markets in the year. We’re finding it’s
                                                                says Berry. “Presenting what it is going to      difficult to hold shows back solely for those
                                                                look like and how it’s going to feel will be a   events.”
                                                                priority for us at the festival.”                   The UK screenings are an event that the
                                                                  The last showstopper will be the Rob           exec plans to come back to for some time as
                                                                Lowe-led (The West Wing) British police          it allows direct communication with buyers
                                                                procedural Wild Bill. The title will place the   early in the year.
                                                                US actor in Lincolnshire to solve British           “You can’t save your ‘ta-da!’ moment now,”
                                                                crimes in an unconventional manner.              she says. “We are constantly out there with
                                                                  “He’s a real fish out of water because         new shows, and with such a large number of
                                                                people are just looking at him and thinking      dramas coming through, they’re scheduled
                                                                ‘what are you doing here?’” Berry adds.          at different times throughout the year. So
                                                                  The titles are a clear example of how          it’s really about finding the right time to talk
                                                                much ITVS GE’s drama slate has grown             to buyers and keeping a conversation going
                                      Noughts & Crosses
                                                                over the years and it’s one reason why the       throughout the year.” TBI

         distributor brings producers in front of buyers
         to give them a more intimate look at the titles
         than you get at major markets.                                                                                                           ITV Studios
            The only thing that’s changed for the                                                                                               Formats Festival
         distributor is the number of businesses also                                                                                           Where: Ham Yard
         entering the fold at the screenings.                                                                                                      Hotel, Soho
            “What is different is we’re trying to liaise                                                                                        When: February 15
         between ourselves so that we don’t all do it at
         the same time,” says Beale.
            “Last year, the screenings really started to
         gain momentum and we were treading over
         each other. We lost a third of our crowd because
         they had a cocktail elsewhere, so we talked to
         each other this year to schedule.”
            As an example, ITV split its venue at the
         Ham Yard Hotel this year with Warner Bros.
         and the two businesses will hold their events at
         separate timeslots.
            “We just see it as a good start to the year. It’s
         not even the lead in to MIPTV, it’s the lead up to
         all the markets. And it gives the time for people
         to spot something they might not have spotted
         at the leading markets around the world,” says
                                                                                                                                                Operation Live
         Beale. TBI

         For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM                                                   TBI UK Screenings February/March 2019   15

p14-15 ITV UK Screenings FebMar19MCMRKBMHFINAL.indd 15                                                                                                       07/02/2019 19:31
DISTRIBUTORS ALL3MEDIA

                           All3Media brings the suspense

                                                                                                                                                    All3Media
                                                                                                                                                  Drama Upfr
                                                                                                                                                               ont
                                                                                                                                                  Where: Wes
                                                                                                                                                             t End
                                                                                                                                                     Cinema
                                                                                                                                                 When: Febru
                                                                                                                                                            ary 21

                                                                                                                                                             Cheat

          All3Media International will branch out this year with a list of eclectic high-end dramas that will
          be paired with a virtual factual upfront for select guests

         T
                         he distributor’s invite-only Drama Upfront will be its           Channing Powell, based on the recently published novel by Nick Clark
                         largest yet with 220 buyers set to attend. Stephen Driscoll,     Windo. It is set to launch globally in 2019.
                         All3Media International’s EVP for EMEA, hopes to engage             Produced for BBC One, Dark Money follows a working-class father who
                         them in conversation about “co-production, pre-sale and          accepts a substantial pay-off from a renowned filmmaker to keep silent
                         scripted format opportunities”.                                  about the molestation of his youngest son.
             “The event is the perfect forum for us to present our upcoming drama            Meanwhile, ABC Australia’s Diary of an Uber Driver is a heart-warming
          slate and discuss our customers’ evolving needs,” says Driscoll. “The           series drawn from true stories. Based on a popular blog and e-book by
          environment and approach ensure a good two-way dialogue with buyers             Ben Phillips, the title follows Ben as he uses what he learns from his
          of drama.”                                                                      passengers to piece together his place in the world.
             Leading titles will include a list of projects from Two Brothers Pictures,      All3’s first non-English project, from Swedish scribe Jesper Harrie,
          including the second instalment of Fleabag, as well as The Missing offshoot     Blinded will also join the list, along with the latest instalment of Miss
          Baptiste, which will see the popular detective Julien Baptiste return for his   Fisher’s Murder Mysteries.
          own show after a near-death experience.                                            Special guests including writers, producers and talent will be brought
             Two Brothers’ eight-part drama The Widow and psychological thriller          in by the distributor to immerse buyers in the content, including The
          Cheat will also make an appearance on the slate.                                Forge executive producer George Ormond, Two Brothers Pictures’ Jack
             The distributor will additionally showcase work-in-progress titles such      and Harry Williams, Studio Lambert’s Sue Hogg, as well as talent such as
          as the Studio Lambert, Liberty Global and Amazon-produced The Feed,             Tcheky Karo and Tom Hollander.
          The Forge’s Dark Money and Australian acquisition Diary of an Uber                 Writers Jack Thorne, Bash Doran, David Hare and Channing Powell
          Driver.                                                                         will also make an appearance.
             “Our strength this year is our range in terms of content,” says Driscoll.       The distributor will add further variety with a virtual factual upfront,
          “Each show has a different appeal. We can offer warmth, humour and              which will offer up interviews with non-scripted producers, early footage
          action and all manner of thrillers.”                                            of titles and research that gives buyers the feel and tone of upcoming
             The Feed is a psychological thriller from The Walking Dead scribe            programming. TBI

          16 TBI UK Screenings February/March 2019                                                      For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM

p16 All3Media UK Screenings FebMar19MCMRKBFINAL.indd 16                                                                                                          07/02/2019 18:31
DISTRIBUTORS FREMANTLE

          Fremantle rolls out global event titles
          Fremantle is taking buyers around the world with a slate of scripted and unscripted titles that
          touch on experiences across continents

          J
                   ens Richter, Fremantle’s International CEO, says the business        incorporation of non-scripted titles.
                   will bring a packed slate of programming to London to get               “We’ve changed the event this year to include a number of
                   ahead “in a market where more and more pre-sale activity is          big factual highlights,” says Richter. “Both Expedition with Steve
                   happening”.                                                          Backshall and Enslaved are event series. With the combined talent,
                      At the event, Fremantle will have director Gurinder Chadha        locations, production values and storytelling, they are on par with our
                   presenting Beecham House, a Delhi-based drama set in the             big drama launches.”
                   19th century. The title “opens a window to a point in history           For Expedition with Steve Backshall, expert producer Wendy Darke
          that we haven’t seen on screen before,” according to the exec.                will be in town along with Backshall to give buyers a glimpse of the
             Baghdad Central will also join the showcase, with Euston Films             project, which sees the team travel unexplored lands.
          producer Kate Harwood and cast discussing their experience of                    Enslaved, which is hosted by Samuel L. Jackson, retraces the
          filming the series in Morocco. The six-part drama, based on the novel         traumatic sea voyage endured by millions of Africans over hundreds
          by Elliot Colla, is set in Baghdad in 2003 just after Saddam Hussein          of years as they were transported from their homes to the New World
          has fallen.                                                                   and a life of slavery.
             Eleanor Catton will also talk the buyers through bringing her Booker          “The event has grown year-on-year,” says Richter. “It’s a fantastic
          Prize-winning novel The Luminaries to life and show a few clips from          opportunity to give buyers an exclusive insight into the live productions
          the series, which is currently in production in New Zealand.                  of some of our biggest upcoming event programming.”
             In addition, Fremantle’s scripted slate will include Latin American           Over 250 global buyers will attend the event, to see creatives, writers
          drama La Jauria, with co-producers and Oscar winners Juan de Dios             and actors on stage, and watch early video material for the productions.
          Larrain and Pablo Larrain on the stage to discuss the show.                      “This is a great opportunity for the clients to get a glimpse into all of
             A big differentiating factor at this year’s showcase will be Fremantle’s   our new projects,” says Richter. TBI

   Fremantle
Where: The Ham Yard
    Hotel, Soho
 When: February 22

                                                                                                                                                 The Luminaries

          For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM                                                    TBI UK Screenings February/March 2019   17

p17 Fremantle UK Screenings FebMar19MCMRKBFINAL.indd 17                                                                                                         07/02/2019 18:32
DISTRIBUTORS WARNER BROS. INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION PRODUCTION

                   Warner Bros. bets on US primetime

                                                                                                                                               Warner Bros.
                                                                                                                                              Formats Festival
                                                                                                                                              Where: Ham Yard
                                                                                                                                                 Hotel, Soho
                                                                                                                                              When: February 15

                                                                                                                                                     World’s Best

          Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP) makes its debut at UK Screenings this year,
          with the studio’s global division presenting three punchy primetime formats premiering in the US across
          the next month.

         T
                         he involvement of WBITVP – which is sharing a venue            global talent at the heart of the show,” explains Zein, adding that the idea
                         with ITV Studios – is a reflection of the “range and           of only three judges was “slightly out of date”, hence the expanded roster,
                         breadth” of the catalogue, as well as a “very strong flow of   who are all leading practitioners across the performing arts.
                         IP” this quarter, according to Andrew Zein, SVP creative          Other offerings include Mental Samurai, which launches on Fox on 26
                         for format development and sales.                              February, and Million Dollar Mile, which debuts on CBS on 27 March.
             “Overall, UK Screenings is a good thing. It means there is a critical         Hosted by Rob Lowe, Mental Samurai is produced by American Ninja
          mass of strong new content that will justify getting buyers to come here.”    Warrior producer A. Smith & Co. Productions as well as Warner Horizon
             WBITVP is offering three new primetime US shows from the major             Unscripted & Alternative Television and Apploff Entertainment.
          networks – each distinctly original and a potential fit for commercial           It is billed as the first obstacle course for the mind, with contestants
          or public-service broadcasters looking for the “holy grail” of primetime      looking to answer questions correctly across categories of knowledge,
          entertainment.                                                                memory, puzzles and sequencing – all while being physically moved
             “There are more new first series coming out of the US in unscripted        around a set in a specially designed, rotating capsule.
          in a long time. There is still so much innovation,” says Zein, highlighting      “It’s got the dynamism and energy you expect from a younger and
          Mark Burnett and Mike Darnell’s World’s Best.                                 more irreverent network. It’s fast, fun and entertaining, and the physical
             “Got Talent has been hugely successful and understandably so for more      nature of what we put these people through has the effect of making it
          than a decade, but it did seem odd that talent searches haven’t moved on,     harder,” says Zein, noting that the studio may hub the format, making
          and have cheated their way through reinvention by sneaking in foreign         it easier for buyers to shoot and scale the programme to specific needs.
          acts into the US or UK shows. Embracing that was where World’s Best              Meanwhile, Million Dollar Mile puts everyday athletes to the test,
          came from,” explains Zein.                                                    shutting down a major city’s streets and erecting an elaborate course.
             Hosted by James Corden, the global-facing series debuted on CBS in the     The only thing standing in the way of contestants and a $1m prize upon
          coveted post-Superbowl timeslot on 3 February. International participants     completion of the course is a group of elite athletes doing everything they
          must impress a panel of judges including RuPaul, Drew Barrymore and           can to stop them.
          Faith Hill as well as penetrate the “wall of the world” – a group of 50          “It’s got that same chase and hero-versus-villain element that you see
          experts from 38 different countries who score the competition.                in something like The Fast and the Furious to Running Man, but put in a
             “People are used to seeing the best via Youtube, so we are putting that    recognisable environment in a TV format,” says Zein. TBI

          18 TBI UK Screenings February/March 2019                                                     For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM

p18 Warner Bros UK Screenings FebMar19MCMRKBFINAL.indd 18                                                                                                       07/02/2019 18:35
pXX NEM TBI FebMar19.indd 1   06/02/2019 11:56
DISTRIBUTORS LIONSGATE

          Lionsgate shoots for the Starz
          Two high-profile Starz offerings and an OWN drama highlight Lionsgate’s slate, which is
          benefiting from the trailblazing success of prior dramas such as The White Princess

         U
                             S studio Lionsgate is quickly becoming a staple in the UK        we still have some markets open, with interest from major clients.”
                             Screenings circuit and has three high-profile dramas on             Rounding out the trifecta of programmes is OWN’s Atlanta-set thriller
                             offer for buyers this year – two of them originating from the    Ambitions, which stars Robin Givens as a high-powered lawyer fighting for
                             studio’s network Starz and another from US cable channel         control of her family’s law firm while dealing with a turbulent domestic life.
                             OWN.                                                                Lionsgate’s presentation to buyers comes at a juncture that sees the studio
             Eight-part drama The Spanish Princess is based on Philippa Gregory’s             ramping up its own SVOD capabilities via Starzplay, which is available
          novels The Constant Princess and The King’s Curse and follows teenaged              on Amazon Prime Video Channels in the UK and Germany, as well as in
          princess Catherine of Aragon who was promised the English throne as a               Canada under the Starz brand. Lionsgate also plans to launch the platform
          child but must fight for her rightful place upon arriving in England.               across France, Italy and Spain.
             “It’s a powerful story set in 16th-century London about the royal court             However, Kapouranis says the studio is able to carefully balance its own
          intrigue that is uniquely told through the perspectives of women,” explains         SVOD ambitions with those of third-party outlets.
          Agapy Kapouranis, the newly appointed president of international television            “How we differentiate ourselves from everyone else launching platforms
          and digital distribution who took over from Peter Iacono in October.                is that Lionsgate owns Starz and we work together very closely, which is
             The drama – which follows in the vein of Starz hits The White Queen              incredible because I think that’s different from the bigger studios,” says the
          and The White Princess but is not a sequel – has been hotly anticipated by a        exec.
          number of buyers who have picked up the prior series via output deals. “So             “I tell all of our clients that we want to support them in launching with
          many people want to license this story,” explains Kapouranis.                       the best content they can in whatever market they are targeting. And given
             Also on the slate from Starz is The Rook, Lionsgate and Liberty Global’s         the breadth of content we have at Lionsgate, we have been able to balance
          UK-shot paranormal thriller about a woman who wakes up in a park with               licensing content to Starzplay while licensing content to our clients all over
          complete amnesia, unable to remember her background or identity, but who            the world.”
          must play the part of the person she inhabits to uncover who she really is.            According to Kapouranis, the business is in “lockstep” in how it is
             “Clients have been asking about The Rook because it’s an international           supporting its Starz investment while continuing to build a “thriving global
          story. It will launch on Starz and Liberty Global’s international footprints, but   distribution business”. TBI

                                                                                                                                                         Lionsgate
                                                                                                                                                     Private Screening
                                                                                                                                                      When: February
                                                                                                                                                            20-21

                                                                                                                                                   The Spanish Princess

          20 TBI UK Screenings February/March 2019                                                           For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM

p20 Lionsgate UK Screenings FebMar19MCMRKBFINAL.indd 20                                                                                                                 07/02/2019 18:37
DISTRIBUTORS CINEFLIX RIGHTS

          Cineflix showcases a scripted boost

                                                                                                                                         Cineflix Rights
                                                                                                                                       Where: Archer Street
                                                                                                                                        Cocktail Bar, Soho
                                                                                                                                        When: February 20

                                                                                                                                                   Coroner

          Cineflix Rights is showing off its growing scripted portfolio to 150 buyers at this year’s London
          event, an increasing priority for the distributor which has enjoyed success with the likes of
          Marcella and Secrets and Lies

          T
                       he distributor will be bringing the Muse Entertainment,          Elsewhere, Bonney says he also looks forward to international
                       Back Alley Films and Cineflix Studios drama Coroner to         buyers’ reception to Inside the Operating Theatre, an exclusive and
                       the event, along with season two of Pure and Russian           intimate insight into four busy operating theatres at Queen Elizabeth
                       original An Ordinary Woman.                                    Hospital in Norfolk, UK.
                           The Soho-based event, held on 20 February, will
          also feature a list of factual hits such as Cineflix production Legends     A MIPTV preview
          of the Deep, UKTV’s Inside the Operating Theatre and a blue-chip doc
          marking the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, The Day We          The Cineflix boss says the UK screenings have opened up an
          Walked on the Moon.                                                         opportunity for the company to give a special preview and sneak peek
             “We’re ramping up our scripted activity,” says Chris Bonney, CEO of      of its slate for key buyers ahead of their launch at MIPTV.
          Rights at Cineflix Media.                                                      “It helps our team gauge interest in our new programming in
             “We have more shows on our slate and more projects in development        advance of MIPTV and prepare for discussions at the market,” he says.
          thanks to the work led by Cineflix Media’s senior VP of global scripted     “There’s no substitute for face-to-face meetings with clients to build
          co-productions Julien Leroux and our talented acquisitions team.”           and sustain successful professional relationships and our business
             Coroner will lead the scripted slate, with a special buyers’ screening   with them. It’s an enjoyable, relaxed event rather than a hard sell.”
          on 21 February at the Soho Hotel. The character-driven drama follows           Bonney adds that the company has production partners attend
          Dr. Jenny Cooper, a recently widowed coroner who investigates               because it has found it useful to allow buyers and producers to meet
          suspicious, unnatural or sudden deaths in Toronto.                          and chat about the shows they’re making and what’s working well for
             Bonney says he is also excited by the 4 x 60-minute doc Legends of the   broadcasters internationally.
          Deep, originally made for Discovery Science US, which features Céline          Cineflix further takes the opportunity to bring its global sales and
          and Fabien Cousteau, the new generation of the legendary family, as         acquisitions teams together to discuss strategy and share experiences
          they dive deep to explore some of the greatest ocean riddles of all time.   and feedback from clients worldwide. TBI

          For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM                                                TBI UK Screenings February/March 2019   21

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DISTRIBUTORS PASSION DISTRIBUTION

          Diversity is key for Passion projects

               Passion
             Distribution
              Showcase
            Where: The Ivy,
            Covent Garden
           When: February 20
                                                                                                 One Hour That Changed The World: The Moon Landing

          An eclectic slate of thought-provoking and entertaining content will lead the way for the Passion
          Distribution Showcase, held once again at London landmark The Ivy

         P
                      assion will open its doors to 80 buyers for the fifth year   with the help of experts that creates a debate and promotes healthy
                      straight, providing an opportunity to “entertain and         attitudes towards sex and relationships for the next generation.
                      inform” clients of its upcoming slate ahead of MIPTV,           “It gives insight into both modern parenting and one of the
                      according to CEO Emmanuelle Namiech.                         crucial issues facing teenagers today,” Namiech says.
                         The leading content at the event will be factual and         Meanwhile, Paradise Hotel will also make a comeback after a
          entertainment programming. Heading up the list will be Passion’s         decade’s hiatus. Having first aired on Fox US in 2003, the show
          documentary commission One Hour That Changed The World: The              follows a group of singles who check in to an exclusive tropical
          Moon Landing, a celebration of the historic 50th anniversary of          resort for the chance to win big money.
          Apollo 11.                                                                  This time, the format will feature a twist – viewers can play
            The doc “provides a unique mix of scientific detail and also human     along at home. Using social media, they will try and influence what
          perspective on a momentous point in history,” says Namiech.              happens on screen, including helping to decide who stays and who
            Fact ent format Mums Make Porn will also be in the line-up, a          goes.
          series which follows a group of ordinary mums who are concerned             Stressing the importance of face-to-face contact, Namiech says,
          about the impact of easily accessible online porn.                       “Showcase is an increasingly important opportunity to connect with
            The mums are ultimately asked to produce their own ‘porn’ film         our clients.” TBI

          22 TBI UK Screenings February/March 2019                                              For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM

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DISTRIBUTORS TVF

         TVF gets up close and personal with Icons
         From Raffles to Richard Branson, TVF International goes inside storied institutions and meets
         global icons for its Zari Gallery-based screening this February

         T
                          VF sales boss Harriet Armston-Clarke is bringing three new           Another key title for the distributor will be New Species, a feature length
                          landmark titles to the event, all focusing on epic locations       doc for NHK, Globo and Arte.
                          and notable individuals.                                             The doc will visit an Amazonian region named Serra da Mocidade,
                             The 100-plus buyers attending will get a behind-the-scenes      where an expedition of 70 people, including 50 renowned scientists,
                          look at Singapore’s grandest hotel with Raffles: Remaking an       identify more than 80 new species of animals, insects and plants in the
         Icon, a two-part doc that sees the famous Raffles hotel undergoing the              region. Armston-Clarke says it is “cutting edge science at its best”.
         most iconic restoration and renovation in its 130-year history.                       “It’s been filmed over five years; they go to a place in the Amazon that
             A 2 x 48-minute series, it follows front-of-house managers, butlers,            no one’s been to before, and find previously unknown new species,”
         executive chefs and housekeepers in the everyday running of the five-               she says.
         star hotel.                                                                           After a “runaway success” last year, the TVF exec says the distributor
             “This is the first time anyone has been allowed behind the scenes of            will continue to take part in the screenings as a lead in to MIPTV.
         this iconic hotel and national institution,” says Armston-Clarke.                     “The sales team were able to spend quality time with their buyers and
             Fittingly, the distributor will be serving a traditional afternoon tea along    we closed a raft of sales for the titles we presented ahead of MIPTV,” says
         with 100 brand new hours of content.                                                Armston-Clarke.
             The distributor will also bring Peer to Peer in to the fold, a 25 x 24-minute     “This year will be bigger and better, with more buyers, cakes, scones –
         title that follows financier and philanthropist David Rubenstein as he              and champagne, of course.” TBI
         interviews the world’s most successful leaders including Jeff Bezos, Tim
         Cook, Oprah Winfrey and Richard Branson.
             The iconic personalities will discuss the personal and professional
         choices that elevated them to become world leaders in their field.

                                                                                                                                         Raffles: Remaking an Icon

              TVF 2019
              Showcase
            Where: The Zari
            Gallery, Fitzrovia
           When: February 21

                                                                                                                                                           Peer to Peer

         For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM                                                           TBI UK Screenings February/March 2019   23

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