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(Toronto, ON, June 20, 2023) – Multi-genre global distribution group, Blue Ant International, announced that it has secured multiple sales of history-themed series and documentaries with leading platforms across Central and Eastern Europe. Deals include premium history programming to Telewizija Polsat & TV Spektrum, Canal+ Polska, AMC Networks International CNE, FTV Prima, TVR, Estonia Public Broadcasting ERR, LRT, Prima TV Romania and RCS & RDS.

“We have a robust portfolio of premium history-themed programming that audiences are hungry for,” says Kate Blank, VP International Sales, Blue Ant International. “This raft of deals speaks to our commitment to bringing our partners across Central and Eastern Europe, and the world, top-tier, compelling content that fulfills their programming needs.”

Blue Ant International Sales Highlights

In Poland, Telewizija Polsat & TV Spektrum has picked up Ice Age: A Frozen World  (3 x 60′ | 1 x 120′; October Films) a factual thriller, with naturalist and explorer Steve Backshall and wildlife presenter Michaela Strachan, that unravels the hidden secrets of the Ice Age and how it created the world we now live in; Greatest Discoveries With Dan Snow (3 x 60’; History Hit) featuring history buff Dan Snow as he explores the sites of history’s greatest discoveries and most  amazing finds; and Citizens At War: A Year In Ukraine (6 x 60’; GTV, Tilt, Film.UA) a docu-series featuring exclusive interviews with the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, and his wife Olena, and details the trauma and triumphs of the war-torn Ukrainian nation. 

Canal+ Polska will air Pride and Prostitution (1 x 60’; One Tribe TV), which focuses on the very successful and lucrative business of sex during the openly promiscuous era of Georgian Britain; Searching for Secrets (6 x 60?; Bigger Bang & Saloon Media), an inside look at the intriguing secrets of some of the world’s most iconic cities; History by the Numbers (20 x 60’; Saloon Media) an energetic, fast-paced series that breaks down extraordinary numbers and stats to give a new perspective on people, events and themes that shaped the world we live in today; Mysteries from Above (20 x 60’; Saloon Media), which investigates historic and contemporary sites from above with drone, satellite, and aerial photography for a unique perspective; Ancient Earth: Dinosaurs of the Frozen Continent (2 x 60?; NHNZ Worldwide & Giant Screen Films), following paleontologists as they uncover fossil evidence of ancient animals and plants that once thrived on Antarctica, while unraveling the mysteries of how these creatures survived; The Black West: A Counter History of the Wild West (1 x 60’; Capa Films), a documentary that takes an iconic moment in history and retells it from a fresh, untold perspective.

Across Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, AMC Networks International CNE will air Greatest Discoveries With Dan Snow (3 x 60’; History Hit), The Black Death With Dan Snow (2 x 60′ | 1 x 120’: History Hit) in which Dan Snow and archaeologist Raksha Dave investigate how the Black Death devastated Britain 700 years ago, including the brutal methods used to try and cure it; Born To Be King (1 x 60; Touchdown Films), a special that reveals the compelling inside story of the extraordinary life of King Charles; 9/11 Kids (1 x 90? 4K | 1 x 100?; Saloon Media) an award-winning doc that explores the lives of the students who were reading with George W. Bush when a plane hit the second tower of the World Trade Center and where their lives are now. Winner of 2020 Ted Rogers Audience Award, Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival; Submarine: Life Under the Waves (2 x 60’; Artlab Films), which follows the crew of nuclear-powered HMS Trenchant on dangerous underwater operations; and Inside Britain’s Secret Nuclear Submarine (1 x 60’: Artlab Films), giving audiences exclusive access to one of the UK’s nuclear missile submarines, delving deep into this clandestine world of national security and terrifying weapons.

The Czech Republic’s FTV Prima, for its documentary channel Prima ZOOM, has licensed Ancient Earth: Dinosaurs Of The Frozen Continent (2 x 60?; HD; NHNZ Worldwide & Giant Screen Films), Bettany Hughes’ Grand Tour: From Paris To Rome  (4 x 60’; Sandstone Global), in which Bettany Hughes takes us on a journey through the great cities of France and Italy to understand how travel, art, and culture can enrich our lives; Greek Island Odyssey With Bettany Hughes (6 x 60’: Sandstone Global) which follows Bettany to unpack the myths and legends of the Greek islands; Greatest Discoveries With Dan Snow (3 x 60’; HD; History Hit); Last Day Of The Dinosaurs (1 x 68’: Pioneer Productions & Handel Productions) a look at the most dramatic event in Earth’s history; a fully immersive thrill-ride of mega-tsunamis, meteor showers, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, firestorms and a chilling nuclear winter; Mysteries from Above (20 x 60’; Saloon Media); Silver Spitfire: The Longest Flight (1 x 60′ HD | 1 x 90′;  Red Bull Originals & Stamp Productions), which follows an incredible journey around the world in a World War II era Spitfire plane, while facing dangerous weather, volcanic ash and politically tumultuous territories; The Dambusters (3 x 60’; October Films), in which historian Dan Snow relives the most daring and ingenious World War II bombing raids; The Real Hunt For Red October (2 x 60’; Muse Productions); The Spy Who Stole The Atom Bomb (1 x 60’; Oxford Digital) examines the newly declassified MI5 files which reveal the story of the female spy who stole Britain’s atomic secrets and gave them to the Soviets; Unsinkable: Japan’s Lost Battleship (1 x 60’; Vulcan Productions) an indepth look at how Japan’s most heavily armed battleship of its time was taken down in World War II; Warbird Workshop (4 x 60’; Air TV), a look at the revival of military aircraft relics that were once the gallant planes that wrote history in the sky;  Britain’s Secret Nuclear Submarine (1 x 60’; Artlab Films) giving audiences new access to one of the UK’s nuclear missile submarines at sea as it prepares for a new mission; Submarine: Life Under The Waves (2 x 60’; Artlab Films); Warship: Life At Sea (14 x 60’; Artlab Films) which documents the everyday life on board the most advanced warships in the world, with unprecedented access to the Royal Navy showing what it’s like to live and work at sea for months at a time.

In Romania, TVR has licensed The Queen’s Coronation in Colour (1 x 60’; Oxford Film and TV), taking audiences behind the scenes of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, arguably the most elaborate ceremony of the 20th century; The Queen and Charles: Mother and Son (1 x 60’; ITN Productions) examining the relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and her eldest son; Charles and Camilla: King and Queen in Waiting (1 x 60’: ITN Productions) which explores Charles and Camilla’s relationship – from scandalous forbidden love, to Camilla winning the hearts of the nation.

Estonia Public Broadcasting ERR has picked up Citizen’s At War, A Year In The Ukraine (6 x 60’; HD: GTV, Tilt, Film.UA), Ice Age: A Frozen World  (3 x 60′ | 1 x 120′; October Films); World’s Most Beautiful Railways (6 x 60’; Flint TV), following the crews who keep Scotland’s historic railways running, taking viewers on the ‘Hogwarts Express’ at it travels across the iconic Glenfinnan viaduct and its breath-taking views; Britain’s Scenic Railways (4 x 60’; Flint TV), introduces audiences to the railway workers, volunteers and travellers who share their experiences of Britain’s most scenic railways with both warmth and humour.

Romania’s RCS & RDS will offer their audiences: Secrets of the Imperial War Museum (6 x 60’, Spring Films), which goes behind the scenes to show how Imperial War Museum experts and volunteers work tirelessly to preserve the most important objects and stories from our past; Silver Spitfire: The Longest Flight (1 x 60′ HD | 1 x 90′;  Red Bull Originals & Stamp Productions); Searching for Secrets (6 x 60?; Bigger Bang & Saloon Media); History by the Numbers (20 x 60’; Saloon Media) 

Also in Romania, Prima TV has picked up: Return to Downton  (1 x 60’, Peninsula TV); Lost Worlds: Deeper into the Black Sea (2 x 60′ | 1 x 90′; Black Sea Films), Unsinkable: Japan’s Lost Battleship (1 x 60’; Vulcan Productions); Secrets of the Imperial War Museum (6 x 60’, Spring Films); Should We Bomb Auschwitz? (1 x 60’, Oxford Film & TV) a chilling account of the two men who escaped from Auschwitz in 1944 and revealed the shocking truth about death camps and the subsequent biggest moral question of our time: should the Allies have done the unthinkable and bombed Auschwitz; The Spy Who Stole the Atom Bomb (1 x 60’, Oxford Digital); The Emperor’s Lost Harbour (1 x 60’, PTV Productions), an look inside an archaeological dig to reveal the lost ancient harbour of Theodosious in the heart of Instanbul; Titanic: The New Evidence (1 x 60’, Blink Films), revealing the real story of the Titanic’s demise and how the great ship sank so quickly; and Warbird Workshop (4 x 60’, Air TV) which join the pilots and engineers fighting to return rare aviation relics to the skies decades after their last flight.

LRT in Lithuania has licensed: Mysteries from Above (20 x 60’; Saloon Media); Born To Be King (1 x 60; Touchdown Films); The Real Spies Among Friends (1 x 60’; Wingspan Productions), a documentary about the real story behind hit drama series A Spy Among Friends, which examines the privileged Kim Philby and his fellow Cambridge traitors, revealing the worst spy ring in history; Cracking the Code (5 x 60’; Blink Films) uncovering some of the world’s most famous codes and ciphers from bizarre ancient markings to random numbers and letters that can unlock military secrets, unmask deadly enemies and even decode lost civilizations; and Return To Downton (1 x 60’; Peninsula TV), a behind-the-scenes peek at Highclere Castle, the inspiration for the Downton Abbey Estate, featuring cast members such as Jim Carter (Carson) and Hugh Bonneville (Lord Grantham), as well as the real life owners of the castle, Lord and Lady Carnarvon.

Blue Ant International is a leading global, multi-genre distributor of high-quality, creative content that engages audiences worldwide and across multiple platforms. The company offers a full-service approach to production partners with sales operations in the U.S., the UK and Canada. Blue Ant International’s premium slates includes distinctive series and formats in five key content categories, including factual entertainment, specialist factual, high-impact documentaries, kids and family and scripted. Blue Ant International also has one of the world’s largest offerings of 4K natural history content. Blue Ant International is a division of Blue Ant Media. 

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Sales include natural history and Royal Family documentary titles

(Toronto, ON, May 30, 2023) – Multi-genre global distribution group, Blue Ant International, announced at LA Screenings that it has secured multiple sales with leading Latin America platforms. Deals include premium programming across the distributor’s vast catalogue to buyers across Latin American territories including DIRECTV Latin America, DGO, A+E Networks Latin America, AMC Selekt 4K, Globo and Teledoce in Uruguay. 

“These shows are a true reflection of Blue Ant International’s diverse catalogue of premium content and will surely be ratings drivers for our Latin American partners,” says Maria Ibarra, VP, International Sales, Blue Ant International. “Our commitment to staying on top of the Lat Am marketplace is key to crafting creative deal making for our clients and helping fulfill their programming strategies across multiple platforms.”

Blue Ant International Sales Highlights

Latin America PayTV service DIRECTV Latin America and the streaming platform DGO, in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay and Mexico, bought Prince Andrew: Banished (1×90’: Blue Ant Studios) which unpacks the tumultuous story of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, formerly regarded as the attractive, beloved son of Queen Elizabeth II, and a decorated naval officer as he falls from grace from the British Royal Family and Cheating Hitler (1×90’| 2×60′: Saloon Media) that follows three Holocaust survivors with unanswered questions from their pasts as they journey back to hometowns, killing sites, and hiding places in search of clues.

A+E Networks Latin America acquired rights to both seasons of Strangest Things (20×60′: Blink Films) that showcases the true stories behind some of our world’s most bizarre and curious artefacts.

Globo licensed exclusive PayTV and SVOD rights for Brazil for Prince Andrew: Banished plus renewed Queen Of the World (2×60′: Oxford Film and TV), an intimate and exclusive portrait of a year in the life of the Queen and the Royal Family as she celebrated 65 years as sovereign. 

As one of the largest distributors of natural history content, Blue Ant International inked a major deal with AMC Selekt 4K, for science and wildlife programming to air in Mexico, South America and Central America. Titles include: Into the Blue: The Wonders of the Coral Triangle (8×60′: Zona Mixta), a stunning exploration of the various marine ecosystems and thousands of underwater creatures that live in the Coral Triangle; Arabian Inferno (5×60’: Blink Films) which looks at the anomaly of the Arabian Peninsula, where water is scarce and death is common, yet a natural world flourishes; Arctic Secrets (8×60’: White Pine Pictures) examines the the region’s creatures as they complete their migration during the Arctic summer; Rooted (5×60’: Rooted Media) looks at five of Africa’s most iconic trees to discover the wildlife that have created a life around them; In Volcanic Odysseys (5×60’| 4×30’: Digital Crossing Productions), fearless adventurers travel to the most violent volcanoes on planet Earth; Wild Castles (5×60’: Taglicht Media) visits five castles to see nature’s surprising role in the rise and fall of empires; and Wild Rockies (5×60’: Blue Ant Studios) gets viewers up close to the animals who make the iconic Rocky Mountains their home.

Teledoce in Uruguay purchased seasons 1 and 2 of World’s Deadliest Weather (65×60′: Back2Back) which showcases the increasingly volatile natural disasters across the planet. 

Blue Ant International is a leading global, multi-genre distributor of high-quality, creative content that engages audiences worldwide and across multiple platforms. The company offers a full-service approach to production partners with sales operations in the U.S., the UK and Canada. Blue Ant International’s premium slates includes distinctive series and formats in five key content categories, including factual entertainment, specialist factual, high-impact documentaries, kids and family and scripted. Blue Ant International also has one of the world’s largest offerings of 4K natural history content. Blue Ant International is a division of Blue Ant Media. 

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(New York, NY) May 9, 2023 – In advance of Content LA, multi-genre global distribution group, Blue Ant International announced a variety of bespoke, multi-platform deals with multiple broadcast partners that reflect its solutions-based, creative approach to sales.  

“The diversity of sales leading into Realscreen exemplifies the advantage of working with Blue Ant International and our flexibility when creating deals that are a win-win for producers and broadcasters,” says Bryan Gabourie, SVP, Sales International Sales & Partnerships, Blue Ant International. “We are constantly evolving whether it’s pre-sales, co-productions or our existing premium content, which has ultimately led to an expansion of the client base with further US buyers.” 

A+E NETWORKS

Blue Ant International and A+E Networks are co-producing original episodes of the popular real-estate series Lakefront Luxury. The new season, currently in production, is set to air in the Home.Made.Nation block. The larger agreement also combines the acquisition of the existing two seasons (20 x 30’; Nikki Ray Media Agency). The series follows buyers attempting to find their ultimate luxury escape from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind with stunning views, gorgeous waterfronts, and serene sunsets. 

In a pre-sale that has led to a greenlight for a fourth season, A+E Networks has also secured 10 episodes of The Killer in My Family (26 x 60’; Woodcut Media), for Lifetime from the expanding global distribution group. The gripping series examines crimes through the lens of the murderer’s family members. Each episode charts the killer’s horrific descent from family member to murderer from a very personal point of view.

SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL™

Blue Ant International has also secured a number of deals with Smithsonian Channel including the licensing of The Black West: A Counter History of the Wild West (1 x 60’; Capa Films), a documentary that takes an iconic moment in history and retells it from a fresh, untold perspective. 

One of the most powerful myths that exists is that the American West was won by heroic white men, but what has been erased from history is that one of four American cowboys was black. Black West flips the narrative by piecing together archives, carefully crafted re-enactments and first-hand historical accounts, and it restores these invisible heroes to their rightful place in history.

Smithsonian has acquired rights to Ireland’s Wild Islands (3 x 60’; 4K; Crossing the Line),  which is currently in production. Filmed in savage storm-ravaged locations, Ireland’s Wild Islands illustrates the challenges wild creatures must face to survive on and around these isolated outposts. Host Eoin Warner, one of Ireland’s leading wildlife and outdoor television presenters, voyages by sailboat starting in Ireland’s most northern island, lonely Inishtrahull, then embarking south along Ireland’s Atlantic coast, before reaching the southwestern tip on Skellig. 

Smithsonian also renewed rights to 8 Days That Made Rome (8 x 60’; October Films), a series that explores eight key days that define the Roman Empire’s remarkable success and the series of events which would ultimately culminate in the end of Rome’s republic. Award-winning historian and host, Bettany Hughes, travels across the Roman world in this eight-part documentary. 

TRUE ROYALTY TV 

And in a deal that expanded its partnership with True Royalty TV, the streaming service dedicated to documenting the lives of royal families around the world, Blue Ant International has sold a package of 14 titles that included renewals and fresh content. Documentaries include Christmas at Stately Homes of England (2 x 60’; ITN Productions), Queen’s Coronation in Colour (1 x 60’; Oxford Film and TV), The Diana Interview: Revenge of A Princess (2 x 60’; Minnow Films) and Harry and Meghan: Two Troubled Years (1 x 60’; ITN Productions), all offer a lens into the British royals providing historical context and cultural significance. 

Recent data, unveiled in an updated report commissioned by Blue Ant International, sees UK FAST channel revenue quadrupling in the next four years, from the current $128 m earnings

(London, UK, March 2, 2023) – Global Distributor, Blue Ant International, released new findings at London Screenings today that point to the significant growth in the UK’s emerging FAST arena over the next four years. Conducted by technology research firm Omdia as a followup to its recent global study on FAST, the UK-focused findings reveal that FAST will account for nearly 20% of the UK’s $3bn premium online ad-supported video market by 2027 (of which $500m will be attributed to FAST). That discovery points to FAST channel revenue in the UK quadrupling in the next four years, from the current $128m earnings. As part of its commission to Omdia, the full, updated global report is now accessible to the public, free-of-charge HERE.

Growth numbers, previously released in the now-updated Omdia report, signalled the exponential audience adoption of FAST platforms and a growing need for producers and content owners around the world to navigate and access this emerging market. The report is aimed as a tool for the industry to unpack how FAST channels operate in order to tap into this emerging space and breaks down:
– Growth of FAST in the UK
– How content owners can make money from FAST
– Opportunities for advertising in FAST
– What type of content is suitable for FAST
– How FAST channels are programmed
– How FAST Channels fit in with existing revenue streams.

“As a global distributor with a proven track record, our goal with these new findings is to demystify how FAST will perform outside of North America, specifically in the UK where free-to-air still reigns supreme,” said Lilla Hurst, Global Head of Acquisitions & Partnerships, Blue Ant International. “The updated data highlights FAST as an opportunity for creators to maximise the value of their IP in the UK via windowing strategies that will extend the life and revenue of their productions. We’re here to help them navigate through that journey.”

New FAST Trends Highlighted in the report:

• UK FAST channel revenue has already increased 180 times between 2019 and 2022

• FAST is a weekly habit for 15% of UK online viewers

• The general movement of consumers from free TV towards free online video is a key driver of ad-based online video monetization, as advertisers start to follow eyeballs from traditional TV towards digital and CTV environments.

• In terms of content, in the US, local news channels have carved out an important niche on FAST.

• News was the top FAST channel genre is the US according to Amagi, with 33% of hours of viewing, 8% for movies and crime, 7% for entertainment and 3% for sports (Amagi Global FAST Report Edition #5).

• News is the leading genre in APAC (14%), but in Europe, documentary channels are number one (15%), while in Latin America, movie channels (21%), according to Amagi.

• New interviews with leaders in the FAST space (indicated below) reveal that anywhere from 50-500 hours of content are required to launch and keep programming fresh for audiences

• An increasing number of channels are FAST-native. These are typically focused around a niche programme genre or target audience

• FAST is often described as “lean-back” entertainment designed for people wanting to relax with minimal effort. Audiences will not research a channel, so its purpose needs to be clear through its branding. The name of the channel often highlights its genre or niche.

The now updated report also includes a roadmap of FAST platforms available in the top 10 international markets and interviews with FAST industry experts and thought leaders, including: Srinivasan KA, Co-founder & Chief Revenue Office, Amagi; Greg Diefenbach, Managing Director at Alliant/Magellan TV; Richard Young, Director of Syndication at Little Dot Studios; Jamie Schouela, President, Global Channels and Media, Blue Ant Media; Jonathan Strauss, Global Head of Business Development, Tastemade.

About the Report:
Omdia’s advertising market data is the result of extensive primary and secondary research, which is used to inform highly granular advertising market models.
Sources include publicly available financial information disclosed by players in the market, regulatory and industry association reports, and Omdia’s bespoke first-party research – including its proprietary global survey of over 19,000 consumers and analyst-led interviews with key industry players.
These inputs are then used to inform and validate a market model that generates net advertising revenue split by country, media type, company, and service, as well as ad-supported online video monthly active users by service.
The modelling process is based on performance of company and media type and it is driven by country-level nominal GDP and other macroeconomic data, as well as analyst adjustments informed by media consumption trends, cyclical factors, regulation, strategy changes, M&As, and technological developments.
Omdia’s FAST forecasts are built upon Omdia’s service-level ad-supported online video advertising revenue and monthly active user forecasts, whereby analyst expertise and conversations with industry players have been used to estimate the proportion of each service’s revenue that comes from FAST. These service-level FAST revenue estimates have then been used to forecast total FAST revenue by individual market and region.

– True Crime Series Takes A Deeper Look Into Understanding the Murderous Mind –

Miami, FL – January 24, 2023 – FilmRise, the New York-based film and television studio and streaming network and Blue Ant International, a leading worldwide distributor of high-quality, creative content that engages audiences worldwide and across multiple platforms, have announced a co-production and distribution deal for a new true crime series with a voyeuristic twist, “Killers: Caught on Camera.”The 10-episode program produced by back2back productions and CBS Reality, will give viewers a front-row seat to footage and analysis of bad decisions and acts of pure evil. The announcement was made today jointly by Max Einhorn, SVP of Acquisitions and Co-Productions of FilmRise and Ben Barrett, Global Head of Content Financing & Partnerships of Blue Ant International.

Max Einhorn comments, “Killers: Caught on Camera is a captivating original true crime co-production, and we are confident that it will be another favorite among this genre’s audience. We look for productions inside reliable genres yet offer unique twists. With ‘Killers: Caught on Camera,’ the ‘cam show’ has a frightening new format. 

“Killers Caught on Camera is a great example of the kind of partner-centric deals within the global production community that Blue Ant International facilitates resulting in creative storytelling” says Ben Barrett. “I’m pleased to be working with this collaborative group on a very international and returnable series that I’m confident will deliver a broad audience for all partners.” 

The series was co-developed between Blue Ant International (BAI) and back2back productions. Ben Barrett also brokered all pre-sales and investment for the project with additional financing from CBS Reality, Seven.One Entertainment Group and Viaplay Group.  FilmRise has secured all exclusive distribution rights in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. CBS Reality has secured exclusive broadcast rights in the UK and Africa. The international rights are available through Blue Ant International.

Video footage from home security cameras, CCTV, and dashcams take center stage in the series, helping detectives catch perpetrators in moments of criminal intent to their final heinous acts of terror. Family members of victims and law enforcement provide first-hand accounts of how these chilling events unfold while experts like Criminal Psychologist Dr. Julia Shaw dissect the darkest corners of the mind. Shaw, a psychological scientist specializing in false memory and criminal psychology, is most notably known as the co-host of BBC Sounds’ number 1 podcast Bad People which analyzes and tries to understand the behavior of murderers, sex offenders, cannibals, and serial killers.  

“Shocking, revealing and emotionally charged, Killers Caught on Camera takes the viewer to the very heart of each and every manhunt, as investigators use everything at their disposal to track down the person responsible,” says David Notman-Watt, Founder/Managing Director back2back productions. “The four-way financing partnership allowed us to create a unique crime series where every featured case is pieced together like a jigsaw.” 

The deal was negotiated by Max Einhorn, SVP Acquisitions and Co-Productions for FilmRise and Ben Barrett, Global Head of Content Financing & Partnerships of Blue Ant International.

FilmRise’s Danny Fisher and Max Einhorn serve as Executive Producers, alongside David Notman Watt at back2back productions, Sam Rowden and Jess Rampling from CBS Reality.