History UK has ordered a new two-hour docudrama titled Bannockburn, which will investigate the well known Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 in which the spear-wielding Scottish force all but destroyed the largest and most powerful feudal army ever assembled. The docudrama will air in the UK in 2014 to mark the 7ooth anniversary of the monumental battle in the First War of Scottish Independence.
BBC Four has closed a deal with Content Television to acquire the exclusive first run UK broadcast rights to RTE’s drama series Amber. In addition, Netflix UK has secured the streaming rights to the series and will make Amber available to subscribers in 2014 following its initial broadcast on BBC Four.
UKTV has announced that they will hosting their first ever Google+ hangout to mark the launch of Valentine Warner Eats Scandinavia, which is set to premiere on the company’s Good Food channel on Monday September 16th at 8pm.
EXCLUSIVE: The BBC is returning to the early days of the First World War for their next drama project. I’ve learned that BBC Two has given the green-light to a new three-part factual drama titled 37 Days about the breakout of the First World War. I hear that production on the drama recently began in Belfast, Northern Ireland. BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow will be announcing the drama later today at the Edinburgh International TV Festival.
Former Discovery exec Simon Andreae has joined forces to launch Scarlet Media, a new production company that will be based out of London. Sony Pictures Television holds a majority interest in the company and will distribute its output internationally.
Channel 5 has announced that they have ordered an original crime drama series – the first time they have done so in the better part of eight years – from FreemantleMedia UK’s Newman Street titled Evidence. The series has received an order for 10 episodes and is expected to air on Channel 5 in early 2014.
UKTV has closed a deal with CBS Studios International to acquire the exclusive first run UK broadcast rights to TNT drama series King & Maxwell for its Alibi channel. The acquisition of the series, which has yet to be renewed for a second season, has been expected for some time, with TVWise reporting in June that UKTV execs were eying the series for a slot on Alibi. The first season of King & Maxwell is expected to premiere on Alibi in early 2014.
Channel 4 has closed a deal with Warner Bros. International Television Distribution to acquire the exclusive first run UK broadcast rights to the fifth (and final) season of TNT’s drama series Southland and the third & fourth seasons of Showtime’s drama series Shameless (dubbed Shameless US by Channel 4 to differentiate it from the original) for its More4 channel.