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MUMBAI:
Broadcasters from across Middle East and Africa have snapped
up a number of the latest top dramas at BBC Worldwide Showcase
2013.
The
four-day event plays host to over 700 TV buyers including
IBA, Yes and Al Jazeera from the Middle East and Africa's
MNet. Between them the networks have licensed 'The Paradise',
'Call the Midwife', 'Da Vinci's Demons', 'Top of the Lake'
and 'Ripper Street' amongt others.
Israel
broadcaster IBA has picked up two key Showcase titles, 'The
Paradise', starring Elaine Cassidy and Emun Elliott and 'Call
the Midwife' (series one). IBA has also licensed a number
of David Attenborough natural history titles including 'Attenborough:
60 Years in the Wild' and 'Attenborough's Giant Egg'.
Also
in Israel, Yes DBS has concluded a drama package that leads
with the eagerly awaited 'Da Vinci's Demons', written by David
S. Goyer and starring Tom Riley and Laura Haddock, based on
the genius' early years in Renaissance Italy. This follows
BBC Worldwide's sale of the eight-part series to Fox International
Channels announced in August last year. Other series in the
deal include 'The Fear' and 'The Secret of Crickley Hall'
as well as a documentary package for titles such as 'Addicted
to Tattoos', 'Eat, Fast and Live Longer' and 'Junior Doctors'
(series two).
In
a drama double, BBC Worldwide has licensed both 'Ripper Street'
and 'Top of the Lake', to MNet for South African territory
premieres.
'Doctor
Who' (Series 5, 6, 7) will premiere on Al Jazeera's children's
channel. Meanwhile Al Jazeera Documentary Channel has bought
200 hours of documentary, current affairs, science and natural
history programming including 'Attenborough's Giant Egg',
'India on Four Wheels', 'Panorama: Poor America', 'Panorama:
Price Tag Wars', 'Transit of Venus' and 'True Stories' (series
2-4).
Elsewhere,
OSN Dubai has acquired the latest series of 'Top Gear' (S19)
and 'Top Gear USA' (S3), securing the exclusive first window
in the Middle East territories.
BBC
Worldwide territory manager Middle East and Africa, sales
and distribution Paola Tonella said, "Drama is topping
the bill at this year's Showcase and it's clear that BBC Worldwide's
programming with its quality scripts and first class production
values are extremely attractive to global buyers. We are very
proud of the Showcase slate, and I'm delighted we have completed
important deals for these series, as well as our premium blue-chip
documentaries, to key broadcasters in this region."
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