RED ARROW STUDIOS SIGNS SCRIPTED PACKAGE DEAL WITH SBS TV IN AUSTRALIA

Red Arrow Studios International has secured a deal with Australian public broadcaster SBS Television for a package of premium scripted series. The titles, “Departure,” “Vienna Blood,” “Stella Blómkvist,” and “Dignity” are set to broadcast on SBS and stream on SBS On Demand. “We’re thrilled SBS has picked up this curated selection of premium drama series, which each have a track record of international success,” Tim Gerhartz, SVP Global Sales at Red Arrow Studios International, said. “We’re confident this array of titles will be thoroughly enjoyed by SBS’s audience.”    

The deal with SBS Television was brokered by Red Studio’s Shirley Bowers, VP Sales & Acquisitions of North America, Australia, and New Zealand. “SBS is known for its unique ability to handpick and curate the best programs from around the world for Australian audiences to enjoy,” Peter Andrews, SBS’s Head of Programming, said. “We’re excited to be bringing this collection of compelling stories showcasing some of the most distinctive drama productions from around the world, to local audiences.”

SBS acquired the six 45-minute episodes of season one and the same number for season two of Canada/Ireland co-production “Departure,” produced by Shaftesbury in Canada and Deadpan Pictures in Ireland. The production was executed in association with Corus Entertainment, Starlings Television, and Red Arrow. Season Two of Departure is set to be released by Red Arrow at MipTV in 2021. SBS also obtained the first season of Stella Blómkvist, produced by Sagafilm for Síminn in Iceland and Viaplay in Sweden with support from the Icelandic Film Centre, the Ministry of Industries and Innovation and MEDIA, Creative Europe. Season Two of Stella Blómkvist is also in production, for delivery in 2021.

The package also includes both seasons of thrilling period crime drama "Vienna Blood," set in 1900s Vienna and based on the best-selling novels by Frank Tallis. Produced by award-winning production company Endor Productions and MR Film in Austria for ORF in Austria and ZDF in Germany, with the assistance of Televisionfund Austria, TV-Filmfund Vienna, and Niederoesterreich Kultur. Season Two of Vienna Blood will deliver in 2021 and has also been pre-sold to BBC in the UK and PBS in the US. "Dignity," an eight 52- minute episodes series produced by Invercine & Wood and Story House Productions for Joyn in Germany and MEGA in Chile, in co-production with Chilean television fund CNTV and MEGA.