All the latest news from the global content industry on Thursday, 8 January

 
 

ITVS & TVNZ extend first-look pact

Television New Zealand (TVNZ) has renewed its exclusive first-look deal with ITV Studios across drama, non-scripted and entertainment.

The multi-year pact covers soaps such as Coronation Street and Emmerdale, as well as quiz show The Chase and access to Love Island UK, Love Island USA and Love Island Australia.

It also includes spin-off Love Island Games and Love Island All Stars, as well as Worlds Apart from South Shore, and dramas ranging from Mammoth Screen’s The Forsytes to Quay Street Productions’ The Guest.

The multi-year deal was brokered by ITVS’s outgoing exec vice president of APAC, Augustus Dulgaro, senior sales manager Harry Seward, and senior legal manager Anthony Sonego. TVNZ has acquired around 13,000 hours of content from ITVS over the last decade. 

 

Ananey shows picked up by Keshet Int’l

Keshet International (KI) has acquired Pirates of Antiquities and Day Trip: Escaping the Taliban as part of a package of factual programming from Paramount’s Ananey Studios.

True crime history series Pirates of Antiquities (5 x 40 minutes) - recently recommissioned for a second season by Israel’s PSB broadcaster KAN - explores the shady worl of antiquities smuggling.

Day Trip: Escaping the Taliban (1 × 70 minutes) tracks four courageous Afghan women forced into hiding after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

The shows will be added to KI’s 2026 slate ahead of London TV Screenings, with the company taking worldwide distribution rights.

 

UK broadcaster 5 orders Huw Edwards drama

The shocking story of the demise of one of British TV’s most well-known figures, newsreader Huw Edwards, will be brought to screen in a landmark factual drama commission from Paramount-owned 5.

The two-part project, currently titled Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, is producer Wonderhood Studio’s drama debut and the first collaboration between 5’s factual and scripted commissioning teams.

Doc Martin star Martin Clunes will take on the role of Edwards who sees his double life as a respected face of BBC news spiral out of control following a conviction for serious child sexual offences and his exit from public life.

5’s consultant editor for commissioning Guy Davies ordered the series alongside scripted commissioning editor Paul Testar. The show is co-produced with financiers Krempelwood, directed by Michael Samuels (The Windermere Children, Any Human Heart) and written by Mark Burt (The Trial). Read more

 

Moonbug’s Blippi & Friends heads to OSN

Middle East pay-tv operator OSN has agreed a deal with Candle Media’s Moonbug Entertainment for its Blippi & Friends channel.

The linear channel aimed at kids aged 4-8 is available on OSNtv in both English and Arabic languages, and includes a daily segment for younger preschoolers.

Blippi and Friends hosts a 24/7 lineup of shows from the Blippi universe, including Blippi Visits, Meekah, Blippi Specials, and Blippi Wonders. Other shows available on the channel include Oddbods, Supa Strikas, and Insectibles.

 

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