MIPCOM 2023: Fred Media to launch 140 new hours of unscripted content

As it celebrates its 10th anniversary year, Fred Media reveals its 2023 MIPCOM slate, showcasing a wide range of new and returning series from long-standing producer relationships as well as exciting content from four new producer partners. In total 139 new hours will be added to its growing catalogue. Two new series from parent company WTFN Entertainment mark Fred Media’s expansion into crime programming. "The Hunters", (6x90) produced for Seven Network, follows Adam Shand, and Steve van Aperen as they join forces to crack famous crimes wide open. "Australia’s Most Dangerous Prisoners" (8x60), also for Seven Network, interviews ex-inmates, former correctional officers, journalists and forensic psychologists to learn about some of the most notorious men and women currently serving time down under – and the horrible crimes that put them behind bars.

Stripe Studios has delivered four new series in time for launch at MIPCOM. "Hoff Roading" (10x30) sees David Hasselhoff travel to New Zealand to present a travel show with a difference with his good friend, Kiwi comedian and actor Rhys Darby. "Izzy & Beaver’s French Connection", (8x60) for Bravo NZ, follows All Black rugby legends and long-time friends Israel ‘Izzy’ Dagg and Stephen ‘Beaver’ Donald on a mischievous and amusing tour of France, while "Iliza Shlesinger: This Tastes Funny" (8x60) catches up with huge US comedy star and actress Iliza as she stops her world stand-up tour in New Zealand for an extended layover, bringing her chef husband, Noah Galuten, along for the ride. The final new series from Stripe Studios is Bravo NZ obs-doc series "New Zealand Gold Diggers" (8x60), which follows three groups of amateur gold prospectors on a quest to strike it rich in remote, secret locations across the South Island of New Zealand.

The last new title from an existing producer partner is "Wonderful Waste" (6x30), a fascinating series from New Mac that meets with six designers and inventors who are reimaging the role of waste in our world in the most innovative of ways.

NEW PARTNERS
From Bengar Films, there are two food shows. "The Intolerant Cooks"(48x30), produced for Seven Network, is a ground-breaking and entertaining series that cooks up full-flavoured, nutrient rich dishes for those with food sensitivities and intolerances, while "The Healthy Cooks" (8x30), produced for Nine, sees the line-up of Tobie Puttock, Diana Chan, Stephanie Claire-Smith and Laura Henshaw presenting nutritious cooking ideas.

"Resto My Ride" (6x60 with series 2 and 3 in production), created by Resto Group International for MotorTrend US and Nine Rush, captures Dec McKearney and the big characters in his team at Resto’s and Rods Garage as they bring about remarkable auto transformations. "Budget Battlers" (4x60), produced by North Light Productions for Nine, is a renovation show with changing people’s lives and homes on a realistically tiny budget. "In Return to Kenya" (7x30), a beautifully filmed mix of food and travelogue from producers TTAT and YAKWETU Distribution.

Finally, returning series new for MIPCOM 2023 are "Space Invaders" S4 (10x60), "Emergency" S4(10x60), and "Paramedics" S5(13x60)– all produced by WTFN for Nine. There is also a fourth season series of "The Circus" (10x30) and a second season of "Rich Listers" (8x60), both Stripe Studios for Bravo New Zealand and a third season of "Never Too Small" (12x30), produced by New Mac.

Courtney Hicks, Fred Media’s acquisitions manager, comments: “2023 is a milestone year for Fred Media: we’ve turned 10, dramatically increased the size of our content slates for the main markets and are working with an ever-increasing number of producer partners from Australia and New Zealand, as well as further afield. With so much consolidation and constant change in the market, our continued presence, long-serving team members and variety of quality content succeeds in making us a reassuring partner for producers and buyers alike. We are excited to launch so many wonderful titles at MIPCOM from our existing popular genres– such as food, travel, auto and reality - and are delighted to mark a first major foray into crime with two such hard-hitting new series as 'The Hunters' and 'Australia’s Most Dangerous Prisoners'.”