All3Media expands FAST channel strategy with a new brand, "Demand Drama"

All3Media International is growing its lineup of FAST channels with the launch of a brand-new original channel, "Demand Drama", set to go live in the UK this April. "Demand Drama" responds to the ongoing appetite for premium drama content that’s free to watch. The channel offers a wide range of top-rated titles from All3Media International’s large scripted library. Its programming blends "cosy crime" dramas and intense thrillers with family favourites, classic dramas, and popular soaps. The channel will also include themed days—starting with weekly "Crime Sundays" throughout its first month.

The launch line-up includes "cosy crime" series "Rose and Maloney", starring Sarah Lancashire ("Happy Valley"), and the critically acclaimed crime anthology "Accused" by Jimmy McGovern, featuring a star cast including Sean Bean, Christopher Eccleston, Olivia Colman, Juliet Stevenson, Sheridan Smith, and Anne-Marie Duff. Also featured are Lynda La Plante’s "Above Suspicion" with Ciarán Hinds and Kelly Reilly, and the award-winning "Trial & Retribution", starring David Hayman, Iain Glen, Kate Buffery, and Simon Callow. Action series "Ultimate Force" with Ross Kemp adds intensity to the schedule, while "Wild at Heart", starring Amanda Holden and Stephen Tompkinson, brings a warm, family-friendly vibe, set in the African bush with guest stars like Hayley Mills, Nomsa Xaba, Thapelo Mokoena, and Deon Stewardson. Seasons 1 to 3 of the hit teen drama "Skins" will also be available. The show launched the careers of stars like Dev Patel, Daniel Kaluuya, Nicholas Hoult, Kaya Scodelario, and writer Jack Thorne.

"Demand Drama" will also highlight top English-language series from around the world. These include the award-winning New Zealand family drama "Outrageous Fortune", starring Robyn Malcolm ("After the Party"), and light-hearted Kiwi titles like "Go Girls"—a beachside comedy about friendship—and "Mean Mums", a sitcom about a quirky group of school moms tackling fundraising, parenting, and life. Irish drama fans will enjoy the acclaimed soap "Red Rock", which follows police officers in a fictional seaside town. The show features complex characters, strong storytelling, and stars like Richard Flood, Sean Mahon, and Cathy Belton.

Gary Woolf, EVP Strategic Development at All3Media International, indicated that the initiative could potentially be replicated in other markets:"We’re thrilled to launch 'Demand Drama', initially in the UK, and it’s a brand we plan to grow in other markets. The channel brings award-winning drama from our catalogue to FAST, and our curated schedule lets us match the right shows to the right audience at the right time," expressed.