FOX Entertainment and Foxtel Group have entered an international agreement to co-develop scripted series for the Australian and U.S. markets.
Jointly announced by Rob Wade, CEO of FOX Entertainment, and Alison Hurbert-Burns, executive director, entertainment content & commissioner of Foxtel Group, the deal sees FOX Entertainment in the U.S. and Foxtel Group in Australia commit to identify and develop scripted series to be co-commissioned by FOX and Foxtel Group.
The pact also includes the development of original content for Foxtel and BINGE in Australia and third-party platforms in the U.S. and abroad. Programs created under the agreement will be produced in Australia by FOX Entertainment’s in-house studio, FOX Entertainment Studios, and involve above and below-the-line talent and crews from Australia and America.
The deal marks the first joint project between FOX Entertainment and Foxtel Group, with FOX Entertainment’s worldwide content sales organization FOX Entertainment Global overseeing international sales of programs developed by the two companies.
Wade said, “Expanding FOX Entertainment’s international footprint through innovative business models is a principal priority for us, particularly as we unfurl our recently formalized structure built on three key business operations – FOX Network, FOX Entertainment Studios and FOX Entertainment Global. Each of these divisions are designed to power our growth strategy by uniting with the best and the brightest companies and creatives around the world, and Foxtel Group is the perfect partner to help us achieve this goal.”
Hurbert-Burns added, “Investing in strategic content partnerships, like this one with FOX Entertainment, is reflective of our desire to deliver global thinking to local productions, whilst also sharing Australian stories around the world. We’re looking to find new ways to collaborate and bring more production to our shores, to deliver Australian productions that are popular for Foxtel and BINGE audiences but also deliver for international partners.”
Foxtel Group last year licensed several series through FOX Entertainment Global. FOX Entertainment Studios’ single-camera comedy Animal Control, starring and executive produced by Joel McHale, streams on BINGE, which has also licensed the animated series Krapopolis, from creator Dan Harmon, and Grimsburg, starring and executive produced by Jon Hamm. Both programs are fully owned by FOX Entertainment and produced by its animation studio Bento Box Entertainment.