‘Impressive figures from a bold acquisition which has helped STV move from just a Scottish catch-up service to a UK-wide digital destination’

Curio Pictures for STV Player

The winner of this award can trace its success back to the development of the VoD platform that acquired it: over the past three years, growth of STV Player has outstripped other PSB services, spurring it on to buy more premium international dramas to attract audiences.

The Commons fits that bill, with one judge saying its acquisition helped “enhance and the reputation and profile” of STV Player.

Produced by Sony-backed Curio Pictures for Australian SVoD Stan in 2019, eight-part The Commons made its UK premiere on STV Player this year.

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Starring Sherwood’s Joanne Froggatt, the near-future dystopian series follows a neuropsychologist desperate to become a mother at a time when the impact of climate change is taking grip of the world.

Female-centric, gripping and offering high production values, the series touches on important topics of the environment and biotechnology.

STV Player’s acquisitions team knew the title required careful curation and marketing to attract an audience and strategy worked well with The Commons rating excellently, receiving 191,000 VoD streams in a single day at its peak.

As another judge put it: “Impressive figures from a bold acquisition which has helped STV move from just a Scottish catch-up service to a UK-wide digital destination.”

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Hemingway
Florentine Films and WETA for BBC4

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This documentary, narrated by Peter Coyote, offered a close study of the life of one of the world’s most celebrated authors, whose work remains influential and to this day. The intimate portrait, from documentary heavyweight Ken Burns, helps unpick the myths surrounding the troubled and tragic author. “A compelling watch that offered great value for money for its ratings”, said one judge.

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Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra
In Films for BBC4

Firestarter

A visually and emotionally stunning cinematic documentary, Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra explores the history of the Australian dance troupe, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year. The film tells the story of how three young Aboriginal brothers – Stephen, David and Russell Page – turned the newly-born dance group into a First Nations cultural powerhouse.

Hidden Assets
Saffron Moon, Facet4Media and Potemkino Production for BBC4

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International crime thriller Hidden Assets follows Irish Criminal Assets Bureau detective Emer Berry and Belgian police commissioner Christian De Jong, who are drawn together when diamonds found by Berry during a routine raid are linked to a series of bombings in Belgium. Together, they uncover a political conspiracy and race to stop another terrorist attack.

Sister Boniface Mysteries
BBC Studios for BritBox and Drama

Sister Boniface

A spin-off from popular daytime series Father Brown, the gentle and humorous period series centres around crime fighting nun Sister Boniface. With her startling IQ of 156 and PhD in forensic science, as well as a slight addiction to detective fiction, she is invaluable in police investigations.

Smother
BBC Studios Drama Productions, Raidió Teilifís Éireann Treasure Entertainment for Alibi

Smother

This dark, limited series follows the aftermath of Val Ahern’s husband’s death, leading to an investigation into what could’ve happened to him. Fingers point to one of Ahern’s own family members as chaos consumes her birthday party. The mix of family drama and gripping thriller made it a standout for Alibi.