Keshet International (KI), Woodcut International and the Seven Network launched a FAST channel dedicated to true crime content on Australia’s premier free streaming platform, 7plus. Titled True Crime Files, this new FAST channel sees KI licensing and delivering nearly 100 hours of true crime content to the Seven Network for its streaming platform 7plus.
Launched on December 3, this initial launch package of factual content includes true crime content produced predominantly by Woodcut Media, including the latest two seasons of “World’s Most Evil Killers” (S8 & S9: 40x60’), alongside “Jo Frost on Killer Kids” (4x60’, produced with Nanny Jo Productions), and “Murdered in the Line of Duty” (3x60’). The titles already represented by KI.
KI has also completed a separate representation deal with Woodcut International for an additional slate of true crime content for 7plus’ True Crime Files that includes: “Surviving a Serial Killer” (S1 & S2: 14x60’), “How I Caught the Killer” (S2: 10x60’), “The Killer Within” (10x60’), and one-off documentaries “Knox: The Rob Knox Story” (1x60’), “Frankie Fraser’s Last Stand” (1x60’), “The Krays by Fred Dinenage” (1x60’), and “The Richardsons by Fred Dinenage” (1x60’). KI has further licensed two high-profile British true crime documentaries handpicked from its factual catalog: Top Hat Productions’ “Exposed: The Church’s Darkest Secret” (2x60’), and Flicker Productions’ “Wayne Couzens: Killer in Plain Sight” (1x60’).
With a lineup of more than 50 FAST channels, 7plus has grown its audience by 29% this year.
Richard Henson, Director Distribution & Content Partnerships at Seven Network, said: “We’re seeing tremendous engagement across our suite of FAST channels with streamed FAST minutes +84% YOY. Mono-thematic, single IP, and sports content are all resonating with our 7plus audience. We’re thrilled to be working with Keshet International on this volume of exceptional true-crime content produced by Woodcut Media and look forward to launching the True Crime Files FAST channel.”
Kelly Wright, KI’s MD of Distribution, added: “Australia’s VoD services and FAST channels are surging in popularity right now, so we are excited to be partnering with the team at 7plus to launch this True Crime Files FAST channel before the end of the year. In addition, this deal has opened the door for us to represent more of Woodcut’s fantastic true crime content with a view to exploiting other VoD and FAST channel opportunities across Asia-Pacific in the future.”
Koulla Anastasi, Managing Director, Woodcut International, commented: “Having developed a solid relationship with Keshet International which spans many years now, we are delighted to provide such key true crime content for the launch of this extremely exciting new channel. The demand for the genre continues to amaze us as producers/distributors, so seeing this new channel launch in Australia will extend our reach even further.”
As worldwide distributor for all nine 20x60’ series of Woodcut Media’s “World’s Most Evil Killers” produced to date (totalling 180 episodes), KI has sold this true crime docuseries - which delves into the gripping real-life stories of some of the most terrifying and prolific murderers in the UK and worldwide - to 96 territories to date, including RTL (Germany), SBS (Finland, and Belgium), M6 (France), AMC Networks (EMEA, Poland, and Africa), Foxtel (Australia), Bell Media (French-speaking Canada) alongside Reelz and The Justice Network (United States), with discussions on-going with current and new broadcast partners. “World’s Most Evil Killers” is also KI’s most successful AVOD title, with multiple deals signed with Filmrise, Tubi TV, Hoopla and Little Dot, amongst others.