(Toronto, ON, June 20, 2023) – Multi-genre global distribution group, Blue Ant International, announced that it has secured multiple sales of history-themed series and documentaries with leading platforms across Central and Eastern Europe. Deals include premium history programming to Telewizija Polsat & TV Spektrum, Canal+ Polska, AMC Networks International CNE, FTV Prima, TVR, Estonia Public Broadcasting ERR, LRT, Prima TV Romania and RCS & RDS.
“We have a robust portfolio of premium history-themed programming that audiences are hungry for,” says Kate Blank, VP International Sales, Blue Ant International. “This raft of deals speaks to our commitment to bringing our partners across Central and Eastern Europe, and the world, top-tier, compelling content that fulfills their programming needs.”
Blue Ant International Sales Highlights
In Poland, Telewizija Polsat & TV Spektrum has picked up Ice Age: A Frozen World (3 x 60′ | 1 x 120′; October Films) a factual thriller, with naturalist and explorer Steve Backshall and wildlife presenter Michaela Strachan, that unravels the hidden secrets of the Ice Age and how it created the world we now live in; Greatest Discoveries With Dan Snow (3 x 60’; History Hit) featuring history buff Dan Snow as he explores the sites of history’s greatest discoveries and most amazing finds; and Citizens At War: A Year In Ukraine (6 x 60’; GTV, Tilt, Film.UA) a docu-series featuring exclusive interviews with the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, and his wife Olena, and details the trauma and triumphs of the war-torn Ukrainian nation.
Canal+ Polska will air Pride and Prostitution (1 x 60’; One Tribe TV), which focuses on the very successful and lucrative business of sex during the openly promiscuous era of Georgian Britain; Searching for Secrets (6 x 60′; Bigger Bang & Saloon Media), an inside look at the intriguing secrets of some of the world’s most iconic cities; History by the Numbers (20 x 60’; Saloon Media) an energetic, fast-paced series that breaks down extraordinary numbers and stats to give a new perspective on people, events and themes that shaped the world we live in today; Mysteries from Above (20 x 60’; Saloon Media), which investigates historic and contemporary sites from above with drone, satellite, and aerial photography for a unique perspective; Ancient Earth: Dinosaurs of the Frozen Continent (2 x 60′; NHNZ Worldwide & Giant Screen Films), following paleontologists as they uncover fossil evidence of ancient animals and plants that once thrived on Antarctica, while unraveling the mysteries of how these creatures survived; The Black West: A Counter History of the Wild West (1 x 60’; Capa Films), a documentary that takes an iconic moment in history and retells it from a fresh, untold perspective.
Across Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, AMC Networks International CNE will air Greatest Discoveries With Dan Snow (3 x 60’; History Hit), The Black Death With Dan Snow (2 x 60′ | 1 x 120’: History Hit) in which Dan Snow and archaeologist Raksha Dave investigate how the Black Death devastated Britain 700 years ago, including the brutal methods used to try and cure it; Born To Be King (1 x 60; Touchdown Films), a special that reveals the compelling inside story of the extraordinary life of King Charles; 9/11 Kids (1 x 90′ 4K | 1 x 100′; Saloon Media) an award-winning doc that explores the lives of the students who were reading with George W. Bush when a plane hit the second tower of the World Trade Center and where their lives are now. Winner of 2020 Ted Rogers Audience Award, Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival; Submarine: Life Under the Waves (2 x 60’; Artlab Films), which follows the crew of nuclear-powered HMS Trenchant on dangerous underwater operations; and Inside Britain’s Secret Nuclear Submarine (1 x 60’: Artlab Films), giving audiences exclusive access to one of the UK’s nuclear missile submarines, delving deep into this clandestine world of national security and terrifying weapons.
The Czech Republic’s FTV Prima, for its documentary channel Prima ZOOM, has licensed Ancient Earth: Dinosaurs Of The Frozen Continent (2 x 60′; HD; NHNZ Worldwide & Giant Screen Films), Bettany Hughes’ Grand Tour: From Paris To Rome (4 x 60’; Sandstone Global), in which Bettany Hughes takes us on a journey through the great cities of France and Italy to understand how travel, art, and culture can enrich our lives; Greek Island Odyssey With Bettany Hughes (6 x 60’: Sandstone Global) which follows Bettany to unpack the myths and legends of the Greek islands; Greatest Discoveries With Dan Snow (3 x 60’; HD; History Hit); Last Day Of The Dinosaurs (1 x 68’: Pioneer Productions & Handel Productions) a look at the most dramatic event in Earth’s history; a fully immersive thrill-ride of mega-tsunamis, meteor showers, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, firestorms and a chilling nuclear winter; Mysteries from Above (20 x 60’; Saloon Media); Silver Spitfire: The Longest Flight (1 x 60′ HD | 1 x 90′; Red Bull Originals & Stamp Productions), which follows an incredible journey around the world in a World War II era Spitfire plane, while facing dangerous weather, volcanic ash and politically tumultuous territories; The Dambusters (3 x 60’; October Films), in which historian Dan Snow relives the most daring and ingenious World War II bombing raids; The Real Hunt For Red October (2 x 60’; Muse Productions); The Spy Who Stole The Atom Bomb (1 x 60’; Oxford Digital) examines the newly declassified MI5 files which reveal the story of the female spy who stole Britain’s atomic secrets and gave them to the Soviets; Unsinkable: Japan’s Lost Battleship (1 x 60’; Vulcan Productions) an indepth look at how Japan’s most heavily armed battleship of its time was taken down in World War II; Warbird Workshop (4 x 60’; Air TV), a look at the revival of military aircraft relics that were once the gallant planes that wrote history in the sky; Britain’s Secret Nuclear Submarine (1 x 60’; Artlab Films) giving audiences new access to one of the UK’s nuclear missile submarines at sea as it prepares for a new mission; Submarine: Life Under The Waves (2 x 60’; Artlab Films); Warship: Life At Sea (14 x 60’; Artlab Films) which documents the everyday life on board the most advanced warships in the world, with unprecedented access to the Royal Navy showing what it’s like to live and work at sea for months at a time.
In Romania, TVR has licensed The Queen’s Coronation in Colour (1 x 60’; Oxford Film and TV), taking audiences behind the scenes of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, arguably the most elaborate ceremony of the 20th century; The Queen and Charles: Mother and Son (1 x 60’; ITN Productions) examining the relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and her eldest son; Charles and Camilla: King and Queen in Waiting (1 x 60’: ITN Productions) which explores Charles and Camilla’s relationship – from scandalous forbidden love, to Camilla winning the hearts of the nation.
Estonia Public Broadcasting ERR has picked up Citizen’s At War, A Year In The Ukraine (6 x 60’; HD: GTV, Tilt, Film.UA), Ice Age: A Frozen World (3 x 60′ | 1 x 120′; October Films); World’s Most Beautiful Railways (6 x 60’; Flint TV), following the crews who keep Scotland’s historic railways running, taking viewers on the ‘Hogwarts Express’ at it travels across the iconic Glenfinnan viaduct and its breath-taking views; Britain’s Scenic Railways (4 x 60’; Flint TV), introduces audiences to the railway workers, volunteers and travellers who share their experiences of Britain’s most scenic railways with both warmth and humour.
Romania’s RCS & RDS will offer their audiences: Secrets of the Imperial War Museum (6 x 60’, Spring Films), which goes behind the scenes to show how Imperial War Museum experts and volunteers work tirelessly to preserve the most important objects and stories from our past; Silver Spitfire: The Longest Flight (1 x 60′ HD | 1 x 90′; Red Bull Originals & Stamp Productions); Searching for Secrets (6 x 60′; Bigger Bang & Saloon Media); History by the Numbers (20 x 60’; Saloon Media)
Also in Romania, Prima TV has picked up: Return to Downton (1 x 60’, Peninsula TV); Lost Worlds: Deeper into the Black Sea (2 x 60′ | 1 x 90′; Black Sea Films), Unsinkable: Japan’s Lost Battleship (1 x 60’; Vulcan Productions); Secrets of the Imperial War Museum (6 x 60’, Spring Films); Should We Bomb Auschwitz? (1 x 60’, Oxford Film & TV) a chilling account of the two men who escaped from Auschwitz in 1944 and revealed the shocking truth about death camps and the subsequent biggest moral question of our time: should the Allies have done the unthinkable and bombed Auschwitz; The Spy Who Stole the Atom Bomb (1 x 60’, Oxford Digital); The Emperor’s Lost Harbour (1 x 60’, PTV Productions), an look inside an archaeological dig to reveal the lost ancient harbour of Theodosious in the heart of Instanbul; Titanic: The New Evidence (1 x 60’, Blink Films), revealing the real story of the Titanic’s demise and how the great ship sank so quickly; and Warbird Workshop (4 x 60’, Air TV) which join the pilots and engineers fighting to return rare aviation relics to the skies decades after their last flight.
LRT in Lithuania has licensed: Mysteries from Above (20 x 60’; Saloon Media); Born To Be King (1 x 60; Touchdown Films); The Real Spies Among Friends (1 x 60’; Wingspan Productions), a documentary about the real story behind hit drama series A Spy Among Friends, which examines the privileged Kim Philby and his fellow Cambridge traitors, revealing the worst spy ring in history; Cracking the Code (5 x 60’; Blink Films) uncovering some of the world’s most famous codes and ciphers from bizarre ancient markings to random numbers and letters that can unlock military secrets, unmask deadly enemies and even decode lost civilizations; and Return To Downton (1 x 60’; Peninsula TV), a behind-the-scenes peek at Highclere Castle, the inspiration for the Downton Abbey Estate, featuring cast members such as Jim Carter (Carson) and Hugh Bonneville (Lord Grantham), as well as the real life owners of the castle, Lord and Lady Carnarvon.
Blue Ant International is a leading global, multi-genre distributor of high-quality, creative content that engages audiences worldwide and across multiple platforms. The company offers a full-service approach to production partners with sales operations in the U.S., the UK and Canada. Blue Ant International’s premium slates includes distinctive series and formats in five key content categories, including factual entertainment, specialist factual, high-impact documentaries, kids and family and scripted. Blue Ant International also has one of the world’s largest offerings of 4K natural history content. Blue Ant International is a division of Blue Ant Media.
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