HOME-GROWN CONTENT FOR PASSION DISTRIBUTION
London, 21st August 2014 - London-based Passion Distribution heads to The Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival (GEITF) this week in an aim to continue to grow its UK content acquisition business and sales into the UK, as well as cementing its existing relationships with prolific UK Indies.
Passion’s long standing relationships include renowned UK indie Reef Television, the producer of hit shows such as DEALERS: PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS (Season 1-7: 178 x 60’) and BEHIND CLOSED DOORS (7 x 60’). Passion is set to launch a third season of Reef’s property-competition show SELLING HOUSES (Season 1-3: 60 x 60’). Passion already distributes over 50 hours of programming from UK production house Landmark Films and will be launching two new documentaries CAT WARS (1 x 60’) and MY PERFECT BIRTH (1 x 60’) from the producer at MIPCOM.
Also continuing its strong relationship with Passion, Quicksilver Media signed an agreement for Passion to distribute its new eye-opening documentary CLOTHES TO DIE FOR (1 x 60’) and the latest season (Season 28: 8 x 30’) of the long-running Channel 4 global current-affairs series UNREPORTED WORLD (Season 1-28: 197 x 30’). This year Passion has also forged new relationships with Lambent Productions, gaining distribution rights to the BBC crime and punishment documentary DEAD BEHIND BARS (1 x 60’) and with Thunk It Media for the American-rights documentary DIRT & DEEDS IN MISSISSIPPI (1 x 60’ or 1 x 90’).
Alongside acquisitions, Passion is making sales to UK broadcasters a top priority with the sale of 50 hours being agreed with UK broadcasters in the last quarter alone, including deals with new entrants such as ITV Be. Many of the programmes are supplied via Passion’s exclusive relationship with The Weather Channel. Passion is also in discussions on a format deal for A.Smith & Co. Productions’ DIVORCE HOTEL after its success in the Netherlands, which is currently in production on Season 2 of the hit format.
Passion’s international hit series from UKTV, DYNAMO: MAGICIAN IMPOSSIBLE (Season 1-4: 16 x 60' & 2 x 60' Specials) will have a strong presence GEITF. The world’s favourite magician, Dynamo, will be holding a master class. Joined by the show’s producers, Dynamo will be explaining to the audience how he created his success, reinvigorating the magic genre worldwide, attendees will also be treated to a sneak preview of season 4. Passion has seen huge global success with the DYNAMO: MAGICIAN IMPOSSIBLE brand, having sold in into over 200 countries.
Attending the event, Passion’s Global Head of Sales, Elin Thomas said “At Passion we pride ourselves on our global reach, but we are also very lucky to work with some of the biggest and best home-grown talent the UK has to offer. I am looking forward to meeting with both new producers and existing content owners, to help further cement Passion as a key distributor in the UK’s TV industry.”
