FRED MEDIA GETS NEW SALES FOR ITS HIT SERIES "EMERGENCY"

Discovery UK’s Really channel is set to premiere the dramatic new medical obs-doc series "Emergency" (10x60’) next 10th August and the Australian distributor Fred Media has sold the title to TV4 Sweden, Mediaworks’ Three in New Zealand, RTL Netherlands, and RTB in Brunei.

The high-intensity, dramatic series, produced by WTFN for Nine Network in Australia, follows an extraordinary team of real-life medical heroes as they fight to save patients suffering life-threatening injuries in one of Australia’s biggest and busiest emergency hospitals, The Royal Melbourne. The series premiered on Nine Network in early July to impressive ratings and critical acclaim.

Adrian Swift, Nine’s head of content, production, and development says: “'Emergency' has been the Australian factual hit of 2020. The show has brought the real lives of the frontline doctors and nurses into our loungerooms, and audiences have loved what they’ve seen. 'Emergency' more than doubled the previous slot average and achieved a FTA primary commercial channel share of 42.2% in total people and 33.5% share of 16-39s. It has won its time slot against 'Big Brother' and 'Bachelor in Paradise' on rival networks. 'Emergency is factual" programming at its best: raw, authentic stories beautifully told.”

Roger Vanderspikken, Fred Media’s COO adds: “With its combination of excellent ratings, unprecedented behind-the-scenes access, and a filming and narrative style that has much in common with scripted medical shows, 'Emergency ' is attracting a lot of interest from broadcasters keen to see new takes on ‘flashing light’ shows. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened global fascination for the work of people on the frontline in hospitals and the continued challenges they face while often putting their own lives at risk. We are excited to see the response from UK audiences and will watch with interest as the series rolls out in Sweden, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Brunei, as well as those other territories close to finalising deals.”