TVF International locks in several sales for MENA
Actual distributor TVF International has confirmed a series of sales to broadcast platforms in the Middle East and North Africa.
MENA broadcaster BBC News Arabic has picked up Channel News Asia’s (CNA) award-winning series Disease Hunters (3 x 48 min.), the BBC Super Tunnel commission (9 x 60 min. ), as well as Lost Pyramids of the Aztecs (2 x 50 min.), originally broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK and Discovery Science in Canada. Also included in the package was the long-running travel series No Luggage (184 x 29 min.), from Bulgarian station Diema and national pubcaster BNT.
Meanwhile, the Farsi service of the BBC BBC Persian, released a number of environmental and scientific titles, including Climate for Change (4 x 48 min.), which was originally produced for the CNA; How to see a black hole: the greatest mystery of the universe (1 x 44 min.), produced by Windfall Films for the BBC and Smithsonian Channel; and, from Thomas Lucas Productions, The Search for Habitable Planets and Birth of Planet Earth (both 1 x 50 min.).
Dubai-based multi-territorial broadcaster OSN has licensed a package including My Perfect Family (37 x 29 min.) from New Zealand’s Attitude Pictures, which highlights children with mental and physical disabilities living their lives to the fullest; and wildlife conservation series Eco-Heroines (8 x 52 min.), originally broadcast in France on TF1 subsidiary Ushuaïa TV.
Rounding out the sale, US-based Arabic-language MENA broadcaster Ulhurra has picked up series 13 of tech show Innovation Nation (13 x 22 min.), while Al Jazeera Documentary Channel has acquired a package that included Rain: The Untold Story (3) x 60 min.), previously broadcast on BBC in the UK and TG4 in Ireland, and gaming docuseries E-Sports Revolution (pictured, 5 x 48 min.), among other titles.
“After a record-breaking year for MENA, I’m delighted to be able to bring a wide selection of titles to these broadcasters,” said Daniyal Bari, TVFI sales executive. “MENA is proving to be a really exciting landscape, and I’m looking forward to seeing new titles find their homes in the Middle East.”
NBCUniversal Formats licenses Hollywood Game Night to Serbia
NBCUniversal Formats has licensed Hollywood Game Night to Serbia’s TV Una, marking the 24th international version of the format.
Created by actor/producer Sean Hayes and producer Todd Milliner, and hosted in its original US incarnation by Jane Lynch, the reality competition pits two four-person teams, each made up of three celebrities and one contestant, against each other in a party series. games and pop quizzes. In the fifth and final round, the non-celebrity contestant on the team with the most points walks away with a cash prize.
The Serbian version of the format, which will be known locally as Hollywoodiranje, will be hosted by actor Nikola Đuričko, who recently came to international attention for his recurring role in season four of Netflix’s Stranger Things.
Previous territories to adopt the format include the United Kingdom, France, French Canada, Greece, Hungary, Spain, Iceland, Turkey, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Amazon Prime Video steps up Nigeria investment, launches local version of LOL
Prime Video is increasing its investment in Nigeria with the announcement of local Amazon Originals for the territory, including a new adaptation of the popular LOL comedy format.
The Nigerian version of the reality competition, which will be titled LOL: Last One Laughing Naija, will pit 10 Nigerian comics against each other to see who can win by keeping a straight face the longest, while at the same time trying forcing their opponents to lose by skinning them. up Produced by Lagos-based prodco Livespot360, and hosted by comedian and entertainer known as Basketmouth, the show will launch worldwide on Prime Video in 2023.
The news comes as Prime Video launches its first locally developed marketing campaign for Nigeria, made by Nigerian crews and production agencies and with Nigerian talent. Viewers in the country can now sign up for the streaming service using the local currency, naira.
“We are delighted to be increasing our investment in Prime Video for customers in Nigeria, making it a truly localized experience,” Josh McIvor, director of international expansion for Prime Video, said in a statement. “From local payment and a full-scale local marketing campaign, to more local content specifically for Nigerian customers, our investment in Nigeria is a significant step towards our wider expansion plans in Africa and the our ambition to be the most local global streaming services. “
Beyond Rights accelerates FAST plans with the OTTera deal
Beyond Rights has teamed up with digital content distributor OTTera to support Beyond’s developing FAST strategy, which will see a suite of both branded and IP-led FAST channels launched worldwide during the coming months.
L.A.-based OTTera. specializes in highly customized OTT services to support the monetization of content across a range of digital platforms. The company manages more than 80 OTT services and more than 200 channels, with more than 100 million users worldwide.
“We are excited to work with OTTera to further develop our business in the digital space and create increasingly direct touchpoints with consumers over time,” David Smyth, CEO of Beyond Rights, said in a statement. “OTTera has an excellent track record for successful content management and monetization, so we know we are in very good hands. We look forward to seeing how this new partnership progresses and how it can benefit the evolving Beyond Rights business, as well as the wide range of content creators we work with.”
