Fred Media launches two ITV Studios Australia's series in its autumn slate

Fred Media has struck a new partnership deal with ITV Studios Australia (ITVSA), which will see it acquire two of the production company’s most high-profile new series, "Inside Central Station: Australia’s Busiest Railway", which will premiere on SBS on 12th September, and "Australia Behind Bars", commissioned by Nine Network.

These two access-driven documentary series will now spearhead Fred Media’s autumn launch slate, joining new titles from parent company WTFN as well as Stripe Studios, Tastemade, MWC Productions, Cheeky Mac Productions and Haciyatmaz Films.

"Inside Central Station: Australia's Busiest Railway" (10x60) is an immersive observational documentary series that tracks the daily behind-the-scenes challenges in the operation of Sydney Trains. For the first time, cameras have been allowed inside the 2000 trains and 175 stations in the network, plus ITVSA secured access to all footage caught on the 12,000 CCTV cameras the company operates.

"Australia Behind Bars" (8x60), dubbed ‘the real Wentworth’, sees cameras go behind the walls and razor wire to reveal what really goes on in three of the country’s toughest prisons. An Australian television first, the ground-breaking series had unprecedented access to prison officers and inmates – both male and female - and will bring incredible, eye-opening moments to the screen, as never before.

Roger Vanderspikken, Fred Media’s general manager, comments: “We are very excited to be partnering with ITV Studios Australia to launch these two big new series. Both titles were made with incredible access, skilful storytelling, and great production values. They reveal new facets about life in Australia, and I am confident they will have great appeal to international broadcasters as we formally launch them to the market this autumn.”

David Mott, ITV Studios Australia’s CEO, adds: “We are delighted to partner with Fred on these new titles. Both 'Inside Central Station: Australia's Busiest Railway' and 'Australia Behind Bars' have been real passion projects for our business and, while uniquely Australian, the themes and stories they convey are universal. I am delighted for them now to be starting their journey around the globe.”

More to come

Fred Media’s autumn slate also see the formal launch of "Sydney Harbour Force" (10x60), the now completed observational documentary series produced by WTFN for Discovery UK, Australia and New Zealand and "The Circus" (20x30), a new reality series produced by Stripe Studios for NBCU (Bravo) New Zealand. It follows the lives of the Webers, a family of 10 who live together, work together, and play together under the backdrop of a Circus Big Top.

Joining them on the slate are five new design-led series from MWC Media: "America By Design" (12x30) "New York By Design" (5x30), "California By Design" (6x30), "Heroes By Design" (3x30) and "Hotels By Design:Australia & New Zealand" (8x30).  Also, new for autumn is "Beyond the Fire" (7x60’) from Cheeky Mac Productions.

From existing partner Tastemade, Fred Media will launch 15 new food titles this autumn, including" Lightened Up" (7x30); "Gamer Snacks" (4x30); "School Night Dinners" (4x30) "…With Laura Miller" (4x30). Rounding out the new titles are two new series from Haciyatmaz Films, "Abandoned Places" (6x30) and "Stories From Hidden Worlds" (6x60).

Finally, Fred Media will launch new series for two returning favourites: series three of "Paramedics" and series two of "Emergency", both ratings-winning obs-doc series produced by WTFN for Nine Network.

Vanderspikken concludes: “From dramatic and compelling observational documentaries to quirky travel titles, fantastic food shows and gorgeous design-led series, Fred Media continues to work with producers at home and overseas to expand its catalogue with top-quality factual programming with broad appeal.”