KESHET INTERNATIONAL AND WOODCUT MEDIA RENEW FIRST-LOOK DEAL ON CRIME PROGRAMMING SLATE
Monday 22nd January, 2018 – Following on from the success of a deal struck back in January 2016, global distributor Keshet International (KI) and producer Woodcut Media have renewed their first-look distribution and development deal for another year, giving KI exclusive access to Woodcut’s new non scripted factual crime slate for worldwide distribution.
Sebastian Burkhardt, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions & Digital, Keshet International, said: “With Kate and the team at Woodcut, we have found a partner who excels in the factual crime genre and we are very pleased to continue our successful collaboration. It’s part of our ongoing strategy to work with best-in class independent UK producers and bring their programming to the global market place.”
Kate Beal, Chief Executive Officer, Woodcut Media, added: “Keshet really understands our ethos when it comes to crime production, and have successfully identified and delivered some of our key shows to a global audience. We are extremely happy to renew this deal for yet another year, which pays testament to the strong and thriving relationship between our two companies.”
Over the years, Woodcut Media has built up a solid reputation as one of the leading producers of the crime genre within the UK, and this has also resonated internationally. With documentaries such as Jo Frost on Killer Kids, Holloway: Women Behind Bars (both for Crime + Investigation) Britain’s Most Evil Killers, World’s Most Evil Killers (for Pick) and The Krays: The Prison Years (for The Discovery Channel) to mention a few, Woodcut’s crime programming slate has grown exponentially since it ramped up activities back in 2015 by expanding its team and hiring Jinal Patel as Executive Producer. Patel was previously Senior Commissioning and Acquisitions Editor at A+E Networks UK (the Crime & Investigation Network fell under her remit).
About Keshet International:
Keshet International (KI) is Keshet Media Group’s global distribution and production arm. Headed by CEO Alon Shtruzman, it includes KI’s local production subsidiaries (Keshet UK, Keshet Studios in the US, Keshet Asia, Keshet MX in Mexico and Tresor Produktions in Germany) as well as Keshet Digital Studios, Keshet Films, Keshet International Gaming and its global distribution arm. KI’s catalogue spans all genres including drama, comedy, game show, talent show, documentaries, factual entertainment/reality dating and kids and includes both original content developed within the KI network of companies and select third party IP. Highlights include the international hit Prisoners of War, upon which the prime time Emmy® winner Homeland was based; gripping espionage thriller False Flag; the high octane game show BOOM!; hit interactive talent show Rising Star and children’s talent show Master Class; reality dating format Girlfri3nds; and international Emmy® Award-winning ‘buddy comedy’ Traffic Light.
About Woodcut Media:
With offices in London and Hampshire, Woodcut Media, a member of the family of Bob & Co businesses, is one of the fastest growing Indies in the UK, producing a broad range of factual programming. In addition to being one of the leading true crime producers in the UK (Jo Frost on Killer Kids, Holloway: Women Behind Bars and The Krays: The Prison Years), Woodcut Media’s rapidly growing catalogue also includes specialist factual series (Wings of War, Combat Machines, Defenders of the Sky), premium one off docs (The Ivy, Cut From A Different Cloth and Mandela, My Dad and Me featuring Idris Elba) and factual entertainment shows (How Hacks Work, Around the World in 80 Tricks and Animal Antics). Woodcut Media’s operations are spearheaded by leading doc producer and CEO, Kate Beal, alongside former BBC exec Derren Lawford as Creative Director and former Lion TV founder Jeremy Mills as Chairman. Woodcut Media also featured in the 2017 Realscreen Global 100. www.woodcutmedia.com
About Bob & Co Group:
The Bob & Co group is made up of TV, film and theatre production companies, operating across the UK and internationally, partnered with an FCA regulated media investment fund. The group combines creativity with financial expertise to develop and produce scripted, unscripted, television, film, digital and theatre content. The group was set up by Bob Benton as a bridge to connect creativity with finance. Having enjoyed a 30 year career in broking and investment banking, Bob transferred his expertise to the development and production of media content. Hilary Strong joined the group as Chief Executive Officer in 2017.
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Keshet International
Melanie Webb, Franklin Rae
+44 (0)203 011 1023 melanie@franklinrae.com
