Cannes, Tuesday 3rd April 2012 – ITV Studios Global Entertainment has today announced a raft of international sales for its returning crime drama franchises. Brand new series Endeavour, which has just been recommissioned, and the second series of critically acclaimed ITV Studios drama Vera have both been acquired by Australia’s Seven Network, TVNZ in New Zealand and Belgian public broadcaster VRT, with Netherlands Public Broadcasting NPO buying Endeavour. Broadcasters around the world have also picked up the most recent series of crime franchises Above Suspicion, Murdoch Mysteries, Agatha Christie’s Poirot, Agatha Christie’s Marple and Lewis.
Tobias de Graaff, Director Global Television Distribution, ITV Studios Global Entertainment said: “Crime drama is an integral part of ITV Studios’ heritage, and we’re delighted to bring these programmes to audiences around the world. We’re particularly pleased to have already closed deals for Endeavour, this fantastic show ranked as ITV1’s highest rating one-off drama since 2006 and has already been recommissioned for a further four episodes; so it’s no surprise we are already gaining the interest of international broadcasters.”
Above Suspicion: Silent Scream, the latest instalment of the hit series by award-winning writer Lynda La Plante, has been picked up by Estonia’s ETV, TVNZ and VRT. VRT and BBC Entertainment in Africa have also taken the third series, Deadly Intent. Above Suspicion is a La Plante Production for ITV1.
The fifth series of long-running nineteenth century detective series Murdoch Mysteries has been sold to Thailand’s TrueVisions and it will also air on Italy’s RAI. NBCU Global Network Asia and China’s Beijing Sohu have acquired series three and four, while VRT has taken series four. The programme is a Shaftesbury Films production.
Series 13 of internationally renowned drama Agatha Christie’s Poirot has been picked up by Hungary’s Sanoma for broadcast by Story TV ahead of its UK premiere and series 12 has been sold to Singapore’s MediaCorp, and Bejing Sohu. Meanwhile, series six of Agatha Christie’s Marple has been sold to Sanoma for Story TV and China’s Gcoo Entertainment, also ahead of its UK premiere. A package of crime drama including both programmes has also been relicensed to Japan’s NEP for NHK, Channel Ginga and AXN Mystery.
NPO has acquired the sixth series of award-winning ITV Studios production Lewis, starring Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox. Meanwhile, Seven Network (Australia) and VRT have bought the sixth series and China’s DB Star has picked up the third and fourth series.
Endeavour sees Shaun Evans (The Take, Come Rain Come Shine) step into John Thaw's shoes to play the younger version of Colin Dexter's iconic character Morse. Set in 1965, the story follows the hunt for a missing schoolgirl, which draws Endeavour Morse back to the place that will ultimately shape and define his destiny – Oxford. Endeavour is a Mammoth Screen production for ITV1, and the drama achieved a 28% share when it debuted on ITV1 in the UK in January.
The deals were brokered by Augustus Dulgaro, SVP Asia Pacific, Nancy Wang, Senior Regional Executive. China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, André Renaud, Senior Sales Executive, Italy, Benelux and Africa and Jennifer Ebell, Senior Sales Executive, Central Europe, Turkey, Greece and Israel for ITV Studios Global Entertainment.
For further information contact: Tracey Jaques, 07730 637731, tracey.jaques@itv.com