As 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of ABBA's iconic victory at Eurovision and the contest once again taking place in Sweden, BBC Studios announced the worldwide distribution rights for the feature documentary "ABBA: Against The Odds," produced by Rogan Productions ("Freddie Mercury The Final Act"). The title tells the epic story of ABBA's greatest period of musical achievement framed between the albums "Arrival" (1976) and "Super Trooper" (1980). The film will be shown on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK this May. It will see a host of European broadcasters, including BBC, ARD/WDR, France Télévisions, SVT, and DR, unite to fund the feature film detailing the story of the renowned group.
BBC Studios will distribute the series internationally and present the program to buyers at BBC Studios Showcase, which will take place in London from 26- 27 February 2024. Tom Young, Head of Indie Partnerships, Factual at BBC Studios, chatted about the background of the production company: "ABBA are a truly international phenomenon, and we are honored to be working with Rogan Productions on what will be another global hit with our clients, following on from highly successful collaboration on 'Freddie Mercury: The Final Act,' both a commercial and critical hit."
James Rogan, Director of Rogan Productions, referred to the cultural significance of the phenomenon: "To be able, as a director, to dive into the ABBA story through the extraordinary archive of their voyage through the tumultuous 70s has been a jaw-dropping experience. The sheer joy of working on a documentary about ABBA cannot be understated, as their bitter-sweet songs remain as resonant in our confused times as they did when they were first recorded. This film will capture the scale of the challenge they faced as a Swedish band gaining success and respect on the global stage, and how the unique combination of four talents produced music that defined the decade and changed pop music forever."
Michael Jochnowitz, BBC Commissioning Editor, Factual Entertainment & Events, emphasized the unpublished material: "'ABBA: Against All Odds' is a truly special documentary, formed by a unique collaboration of broadcasters about one of the world's greatest ever bands…And if you thought you knew the story behind the music, think again," remarked.