‘Midsomer Murders’ Keeps Audiences Engaged
The beloved U.K. detective drama “Midsomer Murders” has been renewed for its 26th series, thanks to a partnership between ITV and distributor All3Media Intl.
This latest commission includes four episodes of the popular prime-time series, continuing to captivate audiences worldwide with its tales from one of England’s quaint yet deadly villages. This new season increases the total episode count to 148, underscoring the enduring charm of Chief Inspector Barnaby, played by Neil Dudgeon.
Produced by Bentley Productions and executive produced by Michele Buck, with commissioning led by ITV drama commissioner Huw Kennair-Jones alongside All3Media International, season 26 promises four new feature-length mysteries set against the backdrop of the deceptively dangerous English countryside. Dudgeon will reprise his role alongside Nick Hendrix as his loyal Detective Sergeant Winter, with returning cast members including Annette Badland as pathologist Dr. Fleur Perkins and Fiona Dolman as Barnaby’s wife Sarah.
&Midsomer Murders” continues to perform well in various regions, including Germany, Scandinavia, and the Baltics, maintaining a strong presence in almost 200 territories, reaching from France to Australia and the U.S.
All3Media Intl. Expands Reach in Kazakhstan
Freedom Media, a leading streaming platform in Kazakhstan, has secured 110 hours of premium scripted programming from U.K. distributor All3Media Intl.
The platform has acquired multiple seasons of notable shows, including the Travis Fimmel-starring mystery drama “Black Snow,” from Australia’s Goalpost Pictures; the Jamie Dornan-led series “The Tourist;” and the four-part political thriller “Roadkill,” featuring Hugh Laurie as a politician struggling with personal turmoil.
Credit: Diego Lopez Calvin
Freedom Media also added “The English,” featuring Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer; the psychological thriller “Angela Black,” headlined by Joanne Froggatt; the dark comedic thriller “Boat Story;” and “Captivated,” starring Kara Tointon and Allen Leech, which tells the story of a young mother caught up with a dubious businessman.
Included in their acquisitions is Snowed-In Productions’ drama “Too Close,” with Emily Watson and Denise Gough; and from Objective Fiction and Tannadice Pictures, the heist series “The Gold,” featuring Hugh Bonneville, Charlotte Spencer, Tom Cullen, and Emun Elliott.
Crime series in the lineup include Hera Pictures’ “I Fought the Law” starring Sheridan Smith, who fights for justice after her daughter’s murder; South Pacific Pictures’ “Far North,” a tale of international crime affecting a small New Zealand community; New Pictures’ “The Long Shadow” and Snowed-In Productions’ historical drama “Mrs. Wilson” featuring Ruth Wilson as her grandmother unraveling a secret life following her husband’s death.
Minika Partners with Spanish Animation Studio
Spanish animation studio Ánima Kitchent has renewed its successful collaboration with Turkey’s Minika for the preschool hit series “Cleo & Cuquín.”
The extended agreement, lasting an additional four years, showcases the show’s ongoing success in Turkey; Seasons 1 and 2 were initially licensed in 2021.
Courtesy of Ánima Kitchent
Under this renewed contract, Minika will keep rights to the first two seasons and will also acquire 30 episodes of the spin-off series “Cuquín: Discover & Explore,” which will now debut on Turkish TV and VOD, greatly enhancing the show’s regional visibility.
“This prolonged partnership signifies the strong bond “Cleo and Cuquín” has developed with Turkish audiences, while also introducing ‘Cuquín: Discover & Explore’ to television and VOD for the first time,” said Miguel Aldasoro, international sales and co-production director at Ánima Kitchent.
Minika’s chief content editor, Elçin Koyuncu, noted that Minika is “committed to providing content that resonates with viewers, and ‘Cleo and Cuquín’ exemplifies this vision beautifully.”
New Game Show “The Auction” Launches in Italy
Dori Media and Abot Hameiri have rolled out their innovative game show “The Auction,” which made its debut on América Televisión in Peru this summer, and is now set to arrive in Italy.
Italian broadcaster Blu Yazmine has acquired the rights to “The Auction” and is in the process of creating an Italian adaptation of the show.
With the first season produced by Dori Media, Abot Hameiri, and América Televisión (locally titled “La Subasta”), the show dominated its prime-time slot in Peru throughout the summer and into the fall.
“The Auction” challenges two families to compete for mysterious boxes based on quirky AI-generated clues. Each family is given the same budget, trying to win items with the highest real value, while viewers at home can engage in real time by guessing the hidden prizes, making it an interactive social experience.
Additionally, Dori Media has licensed the unscripted format “Intuition” to Portugal’s TVI, where it is set to make its European premiere in December, with 20 episodes being ordered for the game show created in partnership with Oded Menashe of the hit series “Smart Face.”
Dori Media has also partnered with leading Argentine production houses Kuarzo Entertainment Group and StoryLab to globally represent their scripted programming catalogs as they prepare for Mipcom.
Sipur Studios and United Heroes Present Israeli-Ukrainian Culinary Competition “SupermarketChef”
Sipur Studios of Israel and Ukraine’s United Heroes are set to showcase their new cooking competition format “SupermarketChef” at Mipcom.
“SupermarketChef” is a quick-paced competition that highlights delicious, simple meals prepared by exceptional home cooks from varied backgrounds. Nutty shoppers unknowingly audition in neighborhood supermarkets to stand out as a national culinary sensation.
The standout chef is whisked away to compete on a supermarket soundstage, creating familiar, tantalizing dishes while keeping costs low.
If both viewers and professional judges find their culinary creations appealing, they will have the chance to earn the title of Supermarket Chef along with a grand prize.
