"China’s Wild Secrets"
TVF placed a number of titles with Japanese public broadcaster NHK, including Channel 4’s "Nazi Space Race" (1x50) and Channel News Asia’s "Silent Soldiers: Russia’s Foreign Mercenaries" (1x47). NHK also licensed blue-chip wildlife series co-produced by TVF International and bili bili, "China’s Wild Secrets" (5x45), which explores China's hidden wildlife havens.
Al Jazeera International licensed two-part ocean conservation series, "Rewilding Sharks" (2x60), from the distributor, which follows a team in Indonesia working to reintroduce endangered zebra sharks into their native waters, and it has also selected investigative world affairs documentary, "The Digital Hostage" (1x60), about a disturbing new trend in online crime: cyber kidnapping.
Pan-Asian network, Phoenix Television licensed premium history from the distributor, selecting Scandinavian co-production from YLE, RUV, SVT, DR and NRK, "Untold Arctic Wars: The Cold War" (6x60), and Arte’s "Empires of Silver" (3x60), tracing silver’s effects on world history from the 16th century to today. Phoenix TV also licensed season 11 of long-running investigative series, "Undercover Asia", featuring episodes on cybercrime, AI Art.
Pan-Asian deals were negotiated by TVF International’s Sales Manager, Daniyal Bari, who comments: “There is an increasing appetite for factual content in Asia, and TVF’s international slate of programming continues to appeal to broadcasters in the region. From premium history covering everything from Asia’s ancient history to untold stories of WWII, to travel and wildlife set in the region, our catalogue connects with audience demands across Asia.”
The distributor sent over 20 hours to National Geographic India, across wildlife, history and world affairs. Titles include EBS’ "Return From Extinction" (3x60), which tracks species across Asia returning to harmony from the brink of extinction, and a special from CNA’s remote medical series "Reaching the Unreached" (1x60), following doctors working to reach isolated communities in the Himalayas. Nat Geo India also selected off-beat history series from A+E Networks, "Weird Britain" (12x60), which explores the truth behind UK’s most iconic myths and legends like the Loch Ness Monster, and King Arthur’s lost sword. The broadcaster also licensed a world affairs special "Fact vs Fiction: Fake News in India" (1x60), from CNA, about the rise of fake news in India and its devastating consequences, and tough jobs series "This Way Up: World's Most Dangerous Highways" (3x60), about long haul truckers in China and India.
“We are especially proud to work with a range of talented and innovative producers from across Asia,”, Bari says, “They have exclusive access within the region and are able to highlight authentic stories that resonate with our broadcast partners based there.”
Elsewhere in India, Discovery licensed three CNA-commissioned titles on the territory: "Aerial India" (1x60), "India on Film" (2x60), and "Asia in the Great War: India’s Forgotten Army" (1x60). Mediacorp TV in Singapore licensed three titles from the distributor, including "Vietnam From Above" (1x60) from Tokyovision, and 100 episodes of short-form aerial series, "Little Big World". Mediacorp also selected global arts and travel series from MBC Busan, "Alleys: Off the Beaten Track" (14x49), in which a local photographer takes viewers on a journey to the most photogenic spots in their city.
Hong Kong and Macau’s pay TV channel, Now TV, acquired a package of titles from TVF, including Channel 4 history programme "24 Hours that Changed the World" (2x60), which counts down the 24 hours prior to the surrenders of Germany and Japan in WWII. Now TV also licensed lifestyle title featuring Victoria Beckham, "Golden Opulence: 500 Years of Luxury in Anatolia" (1x60) about the legacy of luxury in Anatolia.
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