BBC Four is solidifying its place as the home of high end foreign language dramas in the UK.
The BBC has closed deals with Armoza Formats and AB Svensk Filmindustri to acquire three new series for BBC Four’s Saturday night drama slot. The series covered by said deals are Hostages, the Israeli series which formed the basis for the CBS series of the same name (which has been acquired for UK broadcast by Channel 4); 1864, a historical drama about two brothers who fight on the side of Denmark in the Second Schleswig War; and Crimes of Passion, a six episode series based on the popular crime novels by author Maria Lang which follows the exploits of amateur sleuth Puck Ekstedt and fiancé Einar Bure.
“I am delighted that we are adding to our range of international drama on BBC Four with three superb new series”, said Sue Deeks, the BBC’s Head of Programme Acquisitions. “Hostages is a taut, spare and authentic Israeli thriller; Crimes Of Passion is a stylish and engaging 50s-set detective drama; and 1864 is an epic historical Danish series with tremendous sweep and scale.”
The acquisitions of Hostages, Crimes of Passion and 1864 come after BBC Four also recently closed a deal to acquire Irish drama series Amber from Content Television. BBC Four also has the second season of The Bridge, Belgian series Salamander, the third season of Wallander and Welsh series Hinterland on tap for 2014. While on the comedy side the channel recently inked a deal with NBCUniversal International Television Distribution to pick up the third season of the NBC comedy series Parks and Recreation, which is also set to air in early 2014.
