Content distributor Fred Media has struck a new partnership deal with ITV Studios Australia (ITVSA), which will see it acquire two of the production company’s new series, Inside Central Station: Australia’s Busiest Railway, which will premiere on SBS on 12th September, and Australia Behind Bars, commissioned by Nine Network.
These two access-driven documentary series will now spearhead Fred Media’s autumn launch slate, joining new titles from parent company WTFN as well as Stripe Studios, Tastemade, MWC Productions, CheekyMac Productions and Haciyatmaz Films.
Roger Vanderspikken, Fred Media’s general manager, commented: “We are very excited to be partnering with ITV Studios Australia to launch these two big new series. Both titles were made with incredible access, skilful storytelling, and great production values. They reveal new facets about life in Australia and I am confident they will have great appeal to international broadcasters as we formally launch them to the market this autumn.”
Australia Behind Bars
David Mott, ITV Studios Australia’s CEO, added: “We are delighted to partner with Fred on these new titles. Both Inside Central Station: Australia’s Busiest Railway and Australia Behind Bars have been real passion projects for our business and, while uniquely Australian, the themes and stories they convey are universal. I am delighted for them now to be starting their journey around the globe.”
Fred Media’s autumn slate also see the formal launch of Sydney Harbour Force (10 x 60), the now completed observational documentary series produced by WTFN for Discovery UK, Australia and New Zealand. The Circus (20 x 30) is a new reality series produced by Stripe Studios for NBCU (Bravo) New Zealand. It follows the lives of the Webers, a family of 10 who live together, work together, and play together under the backdrop of a Circus Big Top.
Joining them on the slate are five new design-led series from MWC Media: America By Design (12 x 30) New York By Design (5 x 30), California By Design (6 x 30), Heroes By Design (3 x 30) and Hotels By Design: Australia & New Zealand (8 x 30). The US-based series look at a range of innovations – from medical advancements to personal devices – coming out of each state, while Heroes By Design and Hotels By Design investigate the most inspirational and contemporary, design-led hotel experiences.
Also new for autumn is Beyond the Fire (7 x 60’) from CheekyMac Productions. Premiered by Channel 10, the documentary series follows the stories of Australia’s unsung heroes as they band together to create life from ashes after the Australian Black Summer bushfire crisis.
Fred Media is also launching new series for two returning favourites: series three of Paramedics and series two of Emergency, both ratings-winning obs-doc series produced by WTFN for Nine Network.
See also: New SBS doco series Inside Central Station: Australia’s Busiest Railway