ITV STUDIOS ANNOUNCES RAFT OF SCRIPTED SALES

ITV Studios Global Entertainment has today announced a wide range of deals across its diverse scripted catalogue, including pre-sales for its leading launch title at Mipcom, “Noughts and Crosses,” and a number of new sales for epic World War Two drama “World On Fire,” which has already been sold in over 80 territories.

Based on Malorie Blackman’s novel of the same name, “Noughts and Crosses” is a gripping story of love set in a dangerous, alternate world where racism divides society. Produced by Mammoth Screen, it has been acquired by M-Net in Africa, Russia’s More TV, TVNZ in New Zealand, and on BBC First across Benelux prior to its launch on BBC One in the UK next year.

New acquisitions of Mammoth’s “World On Fire”, which is co-produced with Masterpiece and successfully launched on BBC One in the UK last month with a consolidated audience of over six million, include China on Huanxi Premium, RTL in Germany, Telefonica in Spain and BBC First across Australia and Benelux, as well as Roadshow in Australia and in Korea on Channel A for linear and KT Corp for SVOD.

Elsewhere, factual drama “A Confession,” written by the Oscar-nominated Jeff Pope and starring Martin Freeman and Imelda Staunton, has been sold to Seven in Australia, BBC First in Asia, M-Net in Africa, NPO in the Netherlands, VRT Belgium, and in the Nordics on Norway’s NRK, DR in Denmark and YLE in Finland.

Mainstreet Pictures’ character-driven relationship thriller “Gold Digger” has been acquired across Benelux by BBC First, as well as by Seven and TVNZ - both of which have also picked up “Wild Bill,” starring internationally renowned actor Rob Lowe. Produced by 42, Anonymous Content and MultiStory Media, the six-part drama has also been acquired by M-Net, YLE in Finland and BBC First in Asia.

Further sales for Mammoth’s “The War of the Worlds” have been secured on NTT Plala in Japan and in Korea on Channel A and KT Corp. Meanwhile series three of Monumental Pictures’ “Harlots” has been acquired by SBS and SBS On Demand in Australia, Lightbox in New Zealand and U-NEXT in Japan, and “Schitt’s Creek” has been picked up by Viacom 18 in India, Fox Asia and ABC Comedy in Australia.

Ruth Berry, Managing Director of ITV Studios Global Entertainment, said: “From ‘Noughts & Crosses’ and ‘The War of the Worlds,’ to ‘World On Fire’ and ‘A Confession,’ these shows are among some of the most anticipated and some of the most popular titles of the year. Indeed, I believe ‘Noughts & Crosses’ is a brand-defining piece of television and I’m delighted that broadcasters across the world are already coming on board”.