New York, December 12, 2013 – SPI International has recently acquired the Australian television drama series Wentworth from FremantleMedia International. The first season will be soon aired on FilmBox movie channels across Central and Eastern Europe.
Produced by FremantleMedia Australia, the hotly anticipated reimagining of the classic Australian drama Prisoner Cell Block H (known as Prisoner in Australia), takes viewers to the Wentworth Correctional Centre. Set against a backdrop of the violent, dangerous world of the modern prison system, the series looks at the struggles and fractious personal lives of Wentworth’s inmates, including lead characters Bea Smith (Danielle Cormack, Underbelly: Razor) and Franky Doyle (Nicole da Silva, Rush).
Since launching in Australia earlier this year, this graphic, edgy reboot became the most watched non-sports program in Australian subscription television history ever; while in the UK, the series became the number one primetime Australian drama in the UK since 2002. In addition to the UK, the series has been picked up in several countries, including New Zealand, Africa, Scandinavia and Sweden and Eire UFA SERIAL DRAMA is also to make a German-language adaptation of the show in 2014. The original Australian version has been renewed for a second season and will be filmed once more at its purpose built set in the suburb of Clayton.
“Wentworth has proved a huge ratings hit in Britain where it's been renamed Wentworth Prison” – says FilmBox International Director Berk Uziyel. “We are excited to expand the series fan base in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, where it will premiere on our FilmBox channels,” adds Berk Uziyel.
Maximillian Bolenius, VP Sales German speaking Europe, Central & Eastern Europe said “I’m delighted that this must-see drama will be available in several CEE territories with Filmbox. Wentworth is building a huge following around the globe owing to its gritty storylines and fantastic lead characters. I have no doubt that viewers in the region will be hooked, right from the start.”
ABOUT SPl INTERNATIONAL (www.spiintl.com)
For over twenty years, SPI International has been a leading supplier of theatrical films and television programming in the international market. SPI currently operates 34 TV channels in 41 countries, boasts an unbeatable VOD library, and maintains more than 25 million monthly subscribers. SPI’s strong alliances with companies such as Focus Features, The Weinstein Company, Summit Entertainment, Studio Canal, Pathe, Lakeshore Entertainment, Wild Bunch, BBC, ITV, Beta, Freemantle Corp., and Tandem, among many others, provide endlessly compelling content, with strong recognition and high demand. SPI is also committed to using the latest technology, so audiences everywhere can enjoy easy access to its content. With its latest cutting-edge app Filmbox Live, SPI now offers live feeds of its TV channels and access to its on-demand catalogue on any Internet-connected device. SPI continues to enhance the home-entertainment experience and develop new opportunities for our partners around the world.
ABOUT FREMANTLEMEDIA
FremantleMedia is one of the largest creators, producers and distributors of television brands in the world. It is responsible for many of the world’s highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial drama, factual entertainment and kids & family programming, with capabilities that extend from content creation to licensing, digital and branded entertainment, gaming and home entertainment. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes FremantleMedia International, FremantleMedia Digital & Branded Entertainment, FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment, FremantleMedia North America, UFA, FremantleMedia UK, FremantleMedia Australia, Ludia, @radical.media and Original Productions, among others) has an outstanding global network with operations in 25 countries, creating over 9,100 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and airing 400 programmes a year worldwide. The company also distributes more than 20,000 hours of content in over 200 territories. FremantleMedia has some of the world’s most famous and long running formats in its catalogue, and globally produces such programmes as: Idols, Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), Take Me Out, Hole In The Wall, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife, Through the Keyhole Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeite, Wentworth, Neighbours, Generation War, Salatut Elamat, Grand Designs, Project Runway, Tree Fu Tom and Strange Hill High. FremantleMedia is part of RTL Group, the leading European entertainment network, which is in turn 75.1 percent owned by the international media company Bertelsmann. www.fremantlemedia.com
About FremantleMedia International
FremantleMedia International (FMI) is the global distribution division of FremantleMedia, one of the leading creators, producers and distributors of television entertainment brands in the world.
The division is responsible for global sales across Linear Television, Digital and Home Entertainment platforms of finished content, format sales in non-production territories as well as acquiring and developing new programmes for the international market. In addition to the world-class FremantleMedia production families around the globe, FMI works with the highest calibre creative talent, producers, channels, licensees and studios to create, finance and distribute the best content in the business.
FMI’s catalogue contains more than 20,000 hours of content; a diverse and exciting range of programming spanning drama, comedy, factual, lifestyle and entertainment. Managed by a powerful distribution network spanning nine international offices and supported by a best-in-class brand management team, FMI’s content has sold to more than 150 countries around the world. For more information please visit www.fremantlemedia.com.
CONTACT:
Lukasz Bulka - SPI Intl Director of Marketing & PR
lukasz.bulka@spiintl.com
+48 512 097 546
