PASSION DISTRIBUTION BUILDS WITH AMAZING WATER HOMES IN AFRICA
London, 26th June 2014 - Passion Distribution is excited to announce a number deals to both smaller channels and larger broadcasters within Africa. The African television market is evolving rapidly and with it Passion is finding a big appetite for high quality content, from documentaries to lifestyle programming, within the region.
Wananchi Programming, which operates the Zuku pay-TV platform in East Africa, has signed a large package deal with Passion, totalling over 100 hours of content. Zuku picked up a host of shows from UK producer, it licenced CATASTROPHE (5 x 60’), STORM CITY (4 x 60’) and THE BIBLE (7 x 60’) from Pioneer Productions, the murder investigation series REAL CRIME (7 x 60’) from Mentorn Media, Reef Television’s DIGGING FOR VICTORY (10 x 30’) and Hotbed Media’s GARDEN E.R. (8 x 30’). From Scripps Networks International’s U.S. channels, Zuku picked up Season 2 of DEAD FILES (Season 1: 21 x 60', Season 2: 12 x 60') and Season 2 of WHEN VACATIONS ATTACK (Season 1: 24 x 60', Season 2: 12 x 60'). Scripps Networks International’s lifestyle content has also proved popular with Zuku, it picked up SECRETS OF A STYLIST (Season 1: 13 x 30' & 1 x 60', Season 2: 13 x 30'), Season 1 and 2 of the quirky property show YOU LIVE IN WHAT (Season 1: 5 x 60’, Season 2: 9 x 60’, Season 3: 13 x 60’), Season 1 and 2 of HOUSE CRASHERS (Season 1 – 10: 13 x 30’ per season), CELEBRITY HOLIDAY HOMES (Season 4: 2 x 60’, Season 5: 2 x 60’), HOT BEACH HOUSES (4 x 60’) and AMAZING WATER HOMES (6 x 60’). AMAZING WATER HOMES originally premiered on HGTV, where the premiere ranked as the number one prime-time show on HGTV in its premiere month. In the series we meet owners who love water so much that they have created some of the most spectacular waterfront homes in the world. From moats and lazy rivers to pools that run through the entire home – not to mention full-blown water parks in the backyard – AMAZING WATER HOMES gives whole new meaning to waterfront living.
In South Africa, MNET has picked up the latest seasons (Season 6: 13 x 60' & 1 x 90', Season 7: 14 x 60’) of World Of Wonder’s hit series RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE and season 2 of SundanceTV’s behind the scenes show THE WRITERS’ ROOM (Season 1: 6 x 30', Season 2: 6 x 30') after running previous seasons of both shows respectively. SABC licenced Mentorn Media’s current affairs documentary WHY DID OSCAR PISTORIUS KILL MY DAUGHTER?.
The African Business Channel has also picked up a raft of programming from Passion’s home and property catalogue for its Home Channel in Southern Africa. The Home Channel picked up Season 5A (10 x 30’) & Season 5B (13 x 45’) of Mentorn Media’s rogue builder series COWBOY TRAP, presented by Johnny Irwin. The channel also licenced a number of show from Passion’s Scripps Networks International catalogue, RENOVATION RAIDERS (8 x 60’), WEST END SALVAGE (13 x 30’), POWER BROKER (8 x 60’), and the latest seasons (Season 3: 8 x 30', Season 4: 13 x 30') of MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACTOR .
BBC Worldwide Channels has signed a pan-African deal for a number of documentary series and specials, including Mentorn Media’s ALEX BROOKER: MY PERFECT BODY (1 x 60’) and Season 7-10 of Mentorn’s long running police show TRAFFIC COPS (Season 1-12: 54 x 30' & 37 x 60'). The international entertainment group, Modern Times Group (MTG) also licenced a host of shows for its pan-African factual channels Viasat Explore and Viasat Crime, including Mentorn Media’s documentaries CAPTIVE FOR 18 YEARS: THE JAYCEE LEE STORY (1 x 60’) and THE BATMAN SHOOTINGS (1 x 60’), Pioneer Productions’ STORM CITY (4 x 60’), True North Productions’ MURDER ON THE SOCIAL NETWORK (1 x 60’) and Season 1 of Scripps Networks International’s MYSTERIES AT THE MUSEUM (Season 1: 12 x 60', Season 2: 33 x 60', Season 3: 13 x 60').
Lorenzo Bertolotti, Sales Manager for Africa, said “The demand for high-quality content in Africa is driving new channel launches, both locally funded or extensions of the main international networks, and increasing advertising revenue which is in turn pushing up the value of quality content across the continent. This means that buyers are more selective and very aware of what their audience wants, and here at Passion we are glad we can offer a wide range of exciting titles. The first part of the year has seen Passion closing important packages with both local and international channels, strengthening our relationship with the main broadcasters operating in the territory.”
