Tag Archive: Lyle Bettson-Barker

  1. Banijay Rights Sends Premium Scripted and Factual Package to Australia

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    Banijay Rights, the global distribution arm of content powerhouse Banijay Entertainment, today announces it has signed a landmark premium scripted and factual package deal with Australian public broadcaster ABC.

    The agreement comprises Welsh crime drama The One That Got Away, the modern re-imagining of iconic detective series Bergerac, the forthcoming Grantchester season 10 and revealing documentary series Picasso.

    The deal was negotiated by Lyle Bettson-Barker, SVP Sales, Australia and New Zealand, Banijay Rights, who said: “From gripping thrillers and period dramas to fascinating documentaries, we’re in no doubt this incredible ensemble of premium Banijay Rights programmes will captivate viewers across Australia. With such a strong and genre diverse line up of scripted offerings, partnerships like this are a testament to our depth and breadth.  Once again, we’re proud to secure this deal with our partners at the ABC.”

    Head of Programming, Acquisitions & Streaming ABC, Roberta Allan said, “Our audiences will be pulled into mysteries, grandeur and history with these world class series. We are thrilled that these titles will be joining our incredible slate of content on ABC TV and ABC iview.”

    Head of Acquisitions ABC, Dallas Krueger, said, “I’m delighted that ABC audiences will be treated to a stellar line-up of content. This deal underscores the strong collaboration between the ABC and Banijay Rights.”

    Set in the west Wales coastal town of Pembroke Dock, The One That Got Away brings together a top-class team of Welsh crime drama talent. The shocking murder of a nurse opens old wounds in a small-town community, throwing a historic conviction into doubt, raising the horrifying prospect of a copycat killer and reuniting two former lovers tasked with finding the killer. The series is written by Catherine Tregenna (The Bench, Law & Order UK, Lewis and DCI Banks) and stars Elen Rhys (The Mallorca Files, Craith/Hidden), Richard Harrington (Y Gwyll/Hinterland) and Rhian Blythe (Y Golau/The Light in the Hall, Craith/Hidden). All six episodes are directed by Sion Ifan (Y Gyfrinach/The Secret). Produced by BlackLight TV (a Banijay UK company), the series is the English-language version of Welsh-language drama Cleddau, an original series commissioned by Welsh-language channel S4C, supported by Welsh Government via Creative Wales.

    Produced by BlackLight TV, (a Banijay UK company), Bergerac is based on the original series created by Robert Banks Stewart, which starred John Nettles and ran for nine series on the BBC between 1981 and 1991. The detective drama features Damien Molony (The Split, Brassic, Crashing) in the leading role of Jim Bergerac, alongside Zoë Wanamaker (My Family, Shadow and Bone, Black Ops) as Jim’s mother-in-law Charlie Hungerford, and Philip Glenister (Steeltown Murders, Life on Mars) as Arthur Wakefield. The series is written by Toby Whithouse (The Red King, Being Human), alongside Brian Fillis (Trust, Sirens), Catherine Tregenna (The One That Got Away, Three Pines) and Polly Buckle (Love Rat, A Discovery of Witches). The six-part U&Original series is produced by BlackLight TV, part of Banijay UK.

    Meanwhile, hit crime drama Grantchester will see Robson Green and Rishi Nair return as DI Geordie Keating and Reverend Alphy Kottaram, respectively, for season 10 as they continue their crime-solving exploits. The series is a co-production of Kudos (a Banijay UK Company) and MASTERPIECE PBS for ITV.

    Documentary series Picasso is an unflinching look at the life and legacy of the artist. When Picasso died in 1973, the world mourned one of the most celebrated artists of all time. His death left behind a family in turmoil and over 100,000 art works. Since his death, stories of womanising, cruelty and cultural appropriation have made us reassess Picasso. This series provides a look at the life of the artist, whose endlessly inventive revolutionary art and problematic personal life spanned seven of the most tumultuous decades in history. The Series Director is Alice Perman, Producer / Director is John O’Rourke and Executive Producers are Sophie Leonard, Alicia Kerr and Greg Sanderson. The three-part series was produced by Minnow Films for BBC Two.

  2. Stan Acquires Malaysian Adaptation of the Bridge

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    Double Vision, the leading Malaysian production arm of the Vision New Media group, is delighted to announce that both seasons (20 x 60’) of its localised version of Hans Rosenfeldt’s hit Scandi series The Bridge have sold to Stan, Australia’s leading local streaming service.

    The agreement, brokered by Lyle Bettson-Barker, SVP Australia and New Zealand from Banijay Rights, represents the first time that Stan has acquired a Malaysian drama series.

    The Asian version of The Bridge, which premiered on Stan last week, was initially commissioned by Viu and HBO Asia in 2018, after Double Vision introduced Viu to the format. It broadcast to great acclaim across 23 territories in the combined Viu/HBO Asia regional footprint and was also shown on Viu in South Africa. The title has garnered more than 20 regional awards and nominations across its two seasons, making it the most awarded drama in Malaysian history.

    In series one, faithfully following the original, a dead body is found on the border between Malaysia and Singapore, necessitating an investigator from each country to work together to solve the crime. Season two, meanwhile, is an entirely original storyline and, uniquely amongst all the iterations of the format, involves a third country – in this case Indonesia.

    Min Lim, CEO of Vision New Media, head of production at Double Vision and the series’ showrunner says: “I loved the original of The Bridge when I first saw it and knew that the story would work brilliantly on the Malaysia/Singapore border. It was one of the most ambitious Malaysian television projects at the time and I was both thrilled and incredibly appreciative when Viu decided to take a chance on it and subsequently committed to securing the rights so that we could adapt it for them.

    “Malaysian drama has not traditionally travelled well outside of the country, let alone outside of Asia, and this is something that I am incredibly passionate about changing. So, to have our version of The Bridge premiere on Stan in Australia, is not only testament to the incredible skills and talent base that we have in the country but also to the fact that well-made shows of any language can travel if given the opportunity. This has made me even more committed to ensuring that more Malaysian productions find great homes overseas.”

    Lyle Bettson-Barker, SVP Australia and New Zealand, Banijay Rights, added: “One of the most prominent scripted formats of the last decade, The Bridge continues to move and thrill viewers worldwide. We’re delighted the fantastic Malaysian version has found an Australian home in Stan, which will bring a whole new audience to this impeccably crafted series.”

    Double Vision has a growing reputation for producing highly regarded local adaptations of successful scripted formats. It also produced a hit version of Liar for Astro which, amongst its other nominations, is in the running for Best Adaptation of an Existing Format at the upcoming Asian Academy Creative Awards in Singapore this week.

  3. Banijay Rights Serves Up My Kitchen Rules to New Zealand

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    Banijay Rights today announces a raft of news for My Kitchen Rules, with a landmark agreement confirmed with TVNZ for the Australian show. Meanwhile under the Banijay Rights deal, Screentime New Zealand has been commissioned to produce a local version, with the successful format returning after a five-year hiatus.

    Screentime New Zealand, a Banijay company, has been commissioned by TVNZ to produce the culinary competition format, which sees teams travel the nation and attempt to out-dine each other from their own homes. The contestants will compete under the watchful gaze of renowned chefs and restaurateurs Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge, who will be travelling across the ditch to take their judging seats at the head of dining tables around the country. The show will launch on TVNZ 2 in 2023.

    The deal sees Screentime New Zealand produce the format for the first time and builds on the company’s reputation for making high-quality primetime shows for the local and international market.

    The adaptation forms part of Banijay Rights’ new agreement for the Seven Network’s My Kitchen Rules Australia, with TVNZ securing the series long term – including the broadcast of the current 12th season which launched on Channel 7 and 7plus in Australia in August. The series will broadcast this week on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+.

    My Kitchen Rules has now been ordered by 12 international broadcasters across Europe, Australia and Africa, with a further three airing the original format My Restaurant Rules. The latest series My Kitchen Rules South Africa recently returned for a third season on M-Net after three years off air and was renewed for a new run. Banijay globally distributes the format and finished tape for the show.

     The format and finished tape deal was negotiated by Lyle Bettson-Barker, SVP Sales, Australia and New Zealand, Banijay Rights, who said: “As one of Banijay’s most outstanding culinary formats, My Kitchen Rules holds a special place in so many hearts with its focus on everyday cooking by everyday people, with ingredients we can all relate to – home recipes, home cooking, friends, family, tears and laughter. We can’t wait to see Seven’s My Kitchen Rules Australia resonate with New Zealand audiences once again and we’re excited for a new adaptation to showcase local families and friends at TVNZ.”

     Philly de Lacey, CEO of Screentime New Zealand, said: “My Kitchen Rules will showcase the rich diversity of quintessential home cooking here in New Zealand. As a nation we are incredibly proud of our foodie culture, and Screentime New Zealand is set to bring creative know-how to this excellent format for TVNZ.”

    Angus Ross, Seven’s Chief Content Officer, Entertainment Programming, said: “Whichever way you dice it, My Kitchen Rules is Australia’s favourite cooking show, adored by millions. Our distribution partnership with Banijay Rights is one to be proud of and we’re delighted the My Kitchen Rules format continues to resonate in global markets. We look forward to working with TVNZ and Screentime New Zealand on this local version for the New Zealand territory.”

     Cate Slater, TVNZ Director of Content, said: “We’re delighted to bring My Kitchen Rules back to TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+. It is a much-loved series, and we look forward to following the journeys of some of Aotearoa’s best amateur cooks as they set about trying to impress Manu and Colin with their culinary masterpieces in homes around the country.”

    Featuring judges Nigella Lawson and Manu Feildel, My Kitchen Rules Australia sees real people cooking real food in their own homes, serving treasured family recipes and love on a plate to the judges and their fellow contestants.

    Each team will bring their A-game as they compete to win the coveted ‘My Kitchen Rules’ crown, moving one step closer to realising their lifelong food dreams. Which team will impress the judges, score big with fellow contestants and triumph in the heat of the kitchen?