Our client Drive, the production-funding and distribution agency led by Lilla Hurst and Ben Barrett today announces a raft of international sales from broadcast partners for a diverse range of factual content.
Smithsonian Channel has acquired ‘8 Days that Made Rome’ (8 x 60’) for North America. This landmark series from October Films – a co-production with Krempelwood for Channel 5 – breaks from the conventional chronology of Rome’s thousand-year history and brings a new, razor-sharp focus to eight momentous days that created, tested and defined Rome’s greatness. The series is presented by award-winning historian and broadcaster Bettany Hughes.
SBS TV have also acquired the series for Australia and Viasat World for Scandinavia, Central and Eastern European territories.
Discovery Italy has bought the second series’ of both ‘The World’s Deadliest Drivers’ (13 x 30’) and ‘The World’s Deadliest Weather’ (13 x 60’), both captivating UGC series co-created by Drive Back2Back Productions.
‘The World’s Deadliest Drivers’ presents some of the most dangerous and outrageous road incidents from across the globe. Using rarely-seen footage from police and driver dash cams, the series compiles dramatic clips from all over the planet.
Drive originally secured presales from BBC Brit and Discovery Networks International to finance the series. Discovery will air the series across Latin America and on Quest in the UK. BBC Brit will air the series in Africa, Poland and the Nordics.
Drive previously secured pre-sales for ‘The World’s Deadliest Weather’ (13 x 60 mins) to BBC Worldwide for BBC Earth in Nordics, Africa, Poland, Asia and Central Eastern Europe.
Finally, leading international media company, Viasat World has bought ‘Volatile Earth’ (3 x 60) for Scandinavia, Central and Eastern European territories. The series will be exclusive to Pay TV and include VOD rights for the first year. Both ‘Volatile Earth’ and ‘8 Days That Made Rome’ will air on Viasat History in 2018.
“As we approach the end of our first full year in distribution, we’re really pleased to be representing such strong series, with such wide international appeal”. said Joint Managing Director of Drive Ben Barrett.
Since its inception 4 years ago, Drive has become a leader in securing sales, funding and providing consultancy for a portfolio of production company clients. Recent deals negotiated by Drive include the sales of ‘First Contact; Lost Tribe of the Amazon’ and ‘Absolutely Fashion: Inside British Vogue’ to Netflix, ‘The Day the Dinosaurs Died’ to multiple international broadcasters.
Drive launched its distribution arm in September 2016.