Highlights include Jupiter Entertainment’s new true crime series, The Killer You Know and Blue Ant Studios’ latest factual entertainment series, Northwoods Survival
(Toronto, Canada / London UK – October 7, 2024) – Blue Ant Studios is heading to MIPCOM this year with a wide-ranging slate of new unscripted programming from genres such as crime, history, nature, wildlife and environment, factual entertainment and formats. The impressive line-up features more than 20 new series, stand-out single documentaries and numerous popular returning series produced both in-house and by some of the world’s leading independent producers.
“Our latest unscripted slate is a culmination of our efforts to bring the best content to global buyers from both our talented in-house development teams and our brilliant third-party production partners. Northwoods Survival, a Blue Ant Studios’ original series, and Jupiter Entertainment’s The Killer You Know are just two of the new series we’re thrilled to launch this MIPCOM, alongside other high-profile launches and returning series across crime, history, mystery, wildlife, lifestyle and docs,” says Mark Bishop, Co-President, Blue Ant Studios.
TRUE CRIME:
The Killer You Know (20 x 60, Jupiter Entertainment) represents Blue Ant Studios’ first partnership with Jupiter Entertainment, one of the U.S.’s most highly regarded producers of true crime programming. Every episode features three gripping stories of the ultimate betrayal: a person murdered by someone they know, such as a family member, co-worker or jealous ex. The series plunges viewers into a gripping investigation, featuring interviews with law enforcement, victims’ loved ones and criminologists. With dramatic reenactments and visits to crime scenes, it delves into truly shocking murders committed by the most unexpected perpetrators.
The Eunuch Maker (2 x 60 & 1 x 60 presenterless version, Future Studios and Krempelwood), which follows journalist Marcel Theroux into the dark world of a voluntary castration cult.
The Jury: Death on the Staircase (5 x 60, Northern Pictures) is the first adaptation of the incredibly successful format The Jury. In this new series from Australia, which goes behind the scenes of the criminal process using a real case, 12 ordinary citizens are presented with a mystifying death. Will they find the defendant guilty or innocent? The original The Jury format, launched by Blue Ant Studios at London Screenings in 2024, has been licensed in multiple territories and has launched this incredible look at the Australian criminal system. FORMAT RIGHTS AVAILABLE.
FACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT:
Northwoods Survival (8 x 60, Blue Ant Studios) follows a diverse group of people as they embark on the challenge of their lives – a four-season mission to build a life in Canada’s vast and unforgiving northern landscape. The series takes viewers on an adventure through some of the country’s most remote and rugged spots as our participants face the harsh realities of living entirely off the land and striving to not just survive but thrive in these treacherous places that they now call home. FORMAT RIGHTS AVAILABLE.
HISTORY:
Emperor: The Rise and Fall of a Dynasty (3 x 60, October Films & GroupM Motion) examines the turbulent years of the five emperors (Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero) that followed Julius Caesar – each embroiled in a brutal struggle for supremacy, driven by the hunt for power, sex and violence and is told through the eyes of clan matriarch Livia.
Hitler’s British Island (2 x 60, Blink) sheds new light on a dark period of Britain’s wartime history by examining recent revelations about the atrocities that were committed during the Nazi occupation of the island of Alderney, in the English Channel.
Bettany Hughes’ Lost Worlds: The Nabataeans (3 x 60, Sandstone Global) follows the historian as she traces the trade routes of the Nabataeans from the Arabian Peninsula to the Mediterranean to tell their spectacular story, revealing a kingdom – which had Petra as its capital – that she believes to be as important as Ancient Greece, Rome or Egypt.
Atlantis: The Lost City Unearthed (3 x 60 or 1 x 60, Canales Media) follows a team of researchers who have discovered what may be the legendary city of Atlantis in an area that was a majestic island in the Atlantic Ocean during ancient times. What secrets of a lost civilization will this stunning discovery unlock?
Battle of the Atlantic (3 x 60, October Films & GroupM Motion). Engineer Rob Bell and ex-marine Arthur Williams uncover the incredible events behind this bloody and brutal conflict that claimed over 100,000 lives in World War Two. They explore Nazi U-Boats and British warships that battled it out above and below the waves and discover the personal stories of the men and women who risked everything to control the Atlantic.
LIFESTYLE:
Tom Kerridge: Secrets of the Pub Kitchen (10 x 30, Bone Soup Productions) is an entertaining new series that follows the charismatic British chef behind the scenes at one of his pubs as he attempts to achieve a Michelin star by cooking elevated versions of pub favourites. Viewers can also expect top tips and recipes for producing some of his amazing dishes at home.
Kitchen Glow Up (8 x 30, Intuitive Content), sees professional chef Ellen Bennett help homeowners achieve the cooking space of their dreams by reimagining their kitchens through a chef’s eyes, providing top tips and creative techniques that don’t cost a fortune. FORMAT RIGHTS AVAILABLE.
NATURE, WILDLIFE & ENVIRONMENT:
Survival of the Beast (6 x 60, Beach House Pictures) follows globe-trotting adventurer and survival expert Max Djenohan on a mission to discover and mimic the survival skills of the some of the most charismatic animals on Earth – from Sri Lankan leopards skilled at camouflage to the desert-adapted elephants of Namibia.
Pride Rules (5 x 60, Lion Mountain Media) is a remarkable examination of lion prides, their politics, their incessant drive to survive and the daily struggles they face to protect their territory.
Shared Planet (4 x 60, River Road Films) uses stunning cinematography and jaw-dropping animal action to reveal incredible untold stories of people and wildlife flourishing together.
Wings Over Water (1 x 60, Dorsey Pictures) is narrated by Hollywood movie star Michael Keaton. Sharing captivating behaviours, the film tells the compelling story of three amazing bird species – the Sandhill Crane, Yellow Warbler and Mallard Duck – that depend on North America’s wetlands for their survival.
Boss Shark (1 x 60, WildBear Entertainment) captures the extraordinary, never-before-seen behaviour of great white sharks as they compete in a unique showdown to see who will prove to be the leader of the pack and get first mating rights with the females when breeding season begins.
Planet Weird (6 x 60, WildBear Entertainment) travels the world to reveal the most incredible wild creatures, strange behaviours and peculiar survival techniques.
Wild Sky (4 x 60, WildBear Entertainment) tracks outlandish weather across four continents, revealing the ingenious solutions that animals deploy to deal with everything from tornadoes and drought to rain and blizzards.
Cub Camp (6 x 60, Merit Motion Pictures) visits Black Bear Rescue Manitoba, which provides round-the-clock care for orphaned black bear cubs, giving them the skills they need to thrive and survive ahead of returning them to the wild.
The Secret Life of the Hermit Crab (1 x 60, Featuristic Films) beautifully captures an epic migration of a small community of hermit crabs in Guadeloupe.
Hope for Wildlife: The Next Generation (8 x 60, Arcadia Entertainment) is a heartwarming series about the incredible work undertaken at animal rehabilitation centres and the new generation of carers that is taking over from Hope Swinimer.
399: Queen of the Tetons (1 x 90 or 1 x 60, Lucky 8). Featuring contributions from world-renowned nature photographer Thomas Mangelsen and activist Dr Jane Goodall, combined with beautiful wildlife footage and a 15-year archive, this programme examines the future of an iconic American species through the life of one famous grizzly bear with the research number 399.
DOCUMENTARY:
The ”A” Word: America’s War on Women (1 x 60, The Independent) visits America two years after the Supreme Court vote on abortion, examining how the procedure has become a battle for freedom, equality and healthcare itself. The film features those most affected, including the people most vulnerable to the ban, the medics who risk committing felonies to help them and abortion providers terrified for their lives.
Warship: Life in the Royal Navy (3 x 60, True North) uses unprecedented access to take viewers behind the scenes to look at the inner workings of the Royal Navy. Along the way, presenters Julia Bradbury and JJ Chalmers discover how crucial historical events, such as the sinking of the Tudor warship Mary Rose and the Falklands conflict, shaped Britain’s oldest fighting force.
Renee Gracie: Fireproof (1 x 90, Rush Films) is a compelling documentary telling the story of Renee Gracie, a young motorsports superstar who went on to become one of Australia’s biggest earners on Only Fans after sexism pushed her out of the sport she loved.
PARANORMAL & UNEXPLAINED:
My Haunted Hometown (8 x 60, Blue Ant Studios for T+E & Haunt TV) will have audiences questioning everything they know about the town they love. The eight-part series is an immersive, original and fascinating road trip to seemingly idyllic small towns across North America. Following the terrifying stories of three paranormal witnesses per episode, viewers will learn exactly how the past can come back to haunt them. The series will revisit the most frightening moments of our witnesses’ lives, inside the locations of the hauntings, to find out which spirits, ghosts and demons they were tortured by.
Finally, Blue Ant Studios is proud to present a number of returning popular series, including Mysteries from Above S4 (8 x 60), Race Against the Tide S4 (10 x 30), Big Little Crimes S2 (15 x 30), Gone Fishing S7 (8 x 30 & 2 x 60), Great Australian Walks S2 (10 x 60), Money for Nothing S17 (20 x 60), Wildlife ER S3 (6 x 60) and Neu Earth S2 (2 x 60).
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Blue Ant Studios is an international production studio and rights business with offices in Toronto, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, London, Singapore and Sydney. The company’s diverse production slate spans scripted comedy and drama, unscripted entertainment, formats, high-impact documentaries, live-action kids + family, and animation. The studio is anchored in original storytelling, with award-winning series that include Blown Away (Netflix), Canada’s Drag Race (Crave), the scripted teen comedy series, Davey and Jonesie’s Locker (Hulu and Prime Video), Casey Anthony: Where the Truth Lies (Peacock), Drink Masters (Netflix), Race Against the Tide (CBC), The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks (Prime Video), 9/11 Kids (CBC), See No Evil (Investigation Discovery US), and the adult-animated series, Gary and His Demons (Prime Video, Amazon Freevee). The company’s recent feature-length documentary, Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe (Prime Video), was awarded the Toronto International Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award for Best Documentary in 2023. Blue Ant Studios’ distribution arm has a vast catalogue of over 7,000 hours of premium programming from the studio and third-party, top-tier producers around the world. Blue Ant Studios is a subsidiary of the global media company, Blue Ant Media. blueantmedia.com⼁Instagram⼁LinkedIn⼁X⼁