C4 links with Kinetic to secure US cable dramas

4Rights, C4’s rights exploitation division, has established a partnership that will provide an exclusive first option to pick up all UK rights to scripted series developed by Kinetic for the US cable market.

Kinetic, launched by Coelen in March, will work closely with C4’s LA-based programme acquisition consultant, Crispin Leyser. Together, they will look to develop “original and irreverent” 13-part cable dramas, as well as shorter-run event mini-series. C4 will have creative approval over scripts and will work with Kinetic to determine appropriate US outlets, as well as key writers and showrunners.

The production company will have responsibility for setting up the projects in the US, managing the development process and staff, and securing network orders.

Dominic Schreiber, rights development manager at 4Rights, said the deal represented an “innovative new funding model”.

Schreiber, who helped set up a new 4Rights development team earlier this year to work on IP, added: “With the explosion of high-quality, shorter-run cable dramas, there’s a real opportunity for us to get involved in developing and co-funding US series that we know will deliver ratings for C4, and generate considerable secondary revenues for 4Rights”.

Coelen oversaw RDF USA’s move into scripted programming, securing series orders for dramas such as the US version of BBC3’s Being Human with cable network Syfy, and the C4/Showtime co-pro of drama Meadowlands.

He stated that C4’s “bold vision” made it the “perfect partner”.

Anthony Edey, editor for
acquired series at C4, said: “The opportunity to be a catalyst for new quality content and to work with Hollywood’s top writing talent is an exciting and refreshing challenge.”