Red Bull Studios secures global licensing deals for "The Real Mo Farrah"

Red Bull Studios has licensed "The Real Mo Farrah" to CBC Canada, SBS Australia, Canal+ France, Movistar+ Spain, NRK Norway, Servus TV Austria and MContent in the Middle East. “'The Real Mo Farah' is one of a growing slate of documentaries from our studio. We are extremely pleased to see such strong interest, ratings and raves from buyers and audiences for this universally acclaimed and award-winning film,"  Sebastian Burkhardt, RBS’ Head of Partnerships and Commerical Strategy, said.

The sales momentum comes as the film continues receive positive feedback from viewers English-language territories. In its UK and Canadian outings, it has performed strongly in both its linear and streaming outings. The BBC attracted an average audience of 2.8 million viewers for its first broadcast on BBC One. After word of mouth spread amid worldwide media coverage and immense social media attention, ratings soared to 4.3 million across all screens in the seven days post-broadcast.  

According to the UK’s premier broadcaster, the Atomized Studios documentary, produced in association with Red Bull Studios, has set “a new benchmark for what single films can do for audiences.” It cites the production’s “massive impact” for growing “our ambitions in this space,” while emphasizing how these stories feedthe audience’s appetite for “big, complicated, important stories” and are “built for an iPlayer (streaming) audience.” 

In addition to winning the best documentary Rose d’Or and 2023 UK Broadcast awards, "The Real Mo Farrah" was also recognized at the 2022 Anti-Slavery Day Media Awards for Best Broadcast. Canada’s CBC also singled out the film as one of its top-10 most-watched documentaries of 2022. It appeared on the network’s prestigious documentary strand, Passionate Eye, which highlights the best films from around the world, and its streaming platform, CBC Gem. 

"The Real Mo Farah" tells the story of four-time Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah, seeking to discover the facts behind the truth he has kept hidden for three decades. In the film, Farah reveals the reality of his early life. Following its UK airing last summer, the documentary "generated worldwide attention and triggered an important conversation about immigration in the country," a recent release revealed. "Its premiere also brought huge social media engagement and support, with a hotline reporting a significant increase in awareness for survivors of child trafficking and modern-day slavery."