PASSION DISTRIBUTION SIGNS LARGE DEALS AHEAD OF DISCOP AFRICA
4th November 2013 - Ahead of DISCOP AFRICA, Passion Distribution is pleased to announce a number of deals into Africa in the last quarter, totalling over 100 hours of programming.
e.tv has licenced the celebrity reality series LIFE WITH LA TOYA, Season 1 (10 x 30’) for its South African feed, which was produced by World Of Wonder for OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. South African powerhouse MNET has picked up a host of shows for its Pan-African feed. The deal includes two Sundance Channel shows, ALL ON THE LINE WITH JOE ZEE (Season 1: 15 x 60’ & Season 2: 8 x 60’) and the brand new behind the scenes series THE WRITERS’ ROOM (6 x 60’). MNET also licenced the latest season of the World Of Wonder produced RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE (Season 6: 11 x 60’ & 1 x 90’) after successfully running the previous five seasons. Hosted by the one of the world’s most famous drag queens, RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE is the hilarious search for America’s next drag superstar. The show has seen huge global success being licenced into over 158 territories.
BBC Worldwide Channels has signed a large pan-African package deal for a number of documentary specials, including Raw TV’s THE TOWN THAT CAUGHT TOURETTES (1 x 60’), True North Productions’ MY NEW HAND (1 x 60’), Mentorn Media’s SUPERSTORM USA: CAUGHT ON CAMERA (1 x 60’) and Pioneer Productions’ THE YEAR THE EARTH WENT WILD (1 x 60’). As part of the same deal BBC Worldwide also picked up Mentorn Media’s observational documentary series THE FRIED CHICKEN SHOP: LIFE IN A DAY (4 x 60’), Pioneer Productions’ HOW TO CHANGE YOUR BODY (2 x 60’), Figure 8 Films’ ABBY AND BRITTANY: COLLEGE AND BEYOND (3 x 60’) and Season 6 (10 x 30’) of Mentorn Media’s long running police show TRAFFIC COPS.
Also licencing for its Pan-African feed, Discovery has picked up the popular MEN IN RUBBER MASKS (1 x 60’) from Firecracker Films, a revealing documentary for Channel 4 delving into the world of rubber dolling, OWN’s ASK OPRAH ALL STARS (Season 1: 4 x 60’ & Season 2: 6 x 60’) and the latest 2 seasons of OWN’s ST. LOUIS SOUL FOOD (Season 1C: 13 x 60’ & Season 2A: 13 x 60’) after successfully running the first two seasons.
Lorenzo Bertolotti, Sales Executive for Africa says “The African television market keeps evolving rapidly and so does the appetite of the local audience for high-quality international content. Passion continues to grow from strength to strength in the region and we are happy to be heading to DISCOP AFRICA with a host of new must-see shows, from lifestyle to factual, and attention grabbing, fun and adaptable formats.”
Passion Distribution heads to DISCOP AFRICA with over 350 hours of new content from around the world, including 20 returning series. For more information on Passion’s great programming please visit DISCOP AFRICA stand VB15.
About Passion Distribution
Passion Distribution was officially launched by its founder and CEO, Sally Miles, in 2008. In November 2012, Passion Distribution became part of the Tinopolis Group merging with Mentorn International and increasing the catalogue to over 8,000 hours.
London based Passion Distribution now specialises in popular quality programming and formats in genres including Factual Entertainment, Reality, Documentaries, Lifestyle, Drama, Comedy and Game-shows. Passion Distribution has exclusive distribution agreements with many US broadcasters and production companies including Scripps Networks International, Sundance Channel, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, The Weather Channel and World of Wonder and also benefits from the relationship with all Tinopolis Group companies including Firecracker Films, Mentorn Media, A Smith & Co. Productions, Daybreak Pictures and Pioneer Productions.
The company is active in pre-selling, finding co-pro partners and deficit funding third party content.
About BBC Worldwide Ltd.
BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). BBC Worldwide exists to support the BBC public service mission and to maximise profits on its behalf. It does this through investing in, commercialising and showcasing content from the BBC around the world, in a way that is consistent with BBC standards and values. The business also builds the reach and reputation of the BBC brand overseas and champions British creativity.
In 2012/13, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £156m and headline sales of £1,116m and returned £156m to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website: http://www.bbcworldwide.com/annualreview
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