Discovery & BBC Studios Complete UKTV Deal; Multi-Channel Broadcaster Splits
Discovery and BBC Studios have closed the UKTV transaction; splitting up the multi-channel broadcaster. The completed deal comes after the agreement, first announced in April, got the nod from Ofcom last week. BBC Studios now assumes full control of the UKTV brand, VOD service UKTV play and entertainment channels Alibi, Dave, Drama, Eden, Gold, W and Yesterday. Discovery walks away with lifestyle channels Really, Home and Good Food. The deal cost BBC Studios £173 million. 
UKTV Creative - the broadcaster's award-winning in-house creative team - has unveiled a new advert for Dave that will begin airing on the channel as of today (Tuesday June 11th). The ad in question was filmed over a six month period and features talent behind the channel's original series offering a behind-the-scene glimpse of programme making and reinforcing the message that Dave is now home to more original British comedy than ever before. 
UKTV's Gold channel has handed out a series order to The Cockfields, a three episode scripted comedy from David Earl & Joe Wilkinson. Kim Cattrall (Sex And The City), Joe Wilkinson (After Life), Diane Morgan (Motherland), Sue Johnston (The Royle Family), Bobby Ball (Not Going Out) and Nigel Havers (Murder On The Blackpool Express) are attached to star. 
UKTV's W channel has handed out a four episode series order to My Famous Babysitter. Rachel Riley has been set as the first celebrity babysitter for the series. “I’m really up for the babysitter challenge: I’m sure they’ll teach me a lot. I’m scared and excited in equal measure!”, she said. 
Colm Feore (The Umbrella Academy, House Of Cards) and Claire Goose (The Coroner, Casualty) have been tapped for guest starring roles on the thirteenth season of Murdoch Mysteries. There is no word on the nature of the characters they will be playing. Production on the show's eighteen-episode thirteenth season is now underway in Ontario, and is expected to wrap in November. Season 13 will air on CBC in Canada later this year and is expected to premiere on UKTV's Alibi channel in early 2020. 
Alibi has picked up two new U.S. acquisitions. The UKTV owned and operated channel has struck deals with WarnerMedia and Endeavor Content for TNT's I Am The Night and Paramount Network's Waco, respectively. Both series will premiere on Alibi later this year. UKTV's Head of Acquisitions brokered both licensing agreements with WarnerMedia and Endeavor Content.