The international distributor has signed multiple format commissions in key territories around the world, including Latin America and Europe.
A+E Networks Global Content Sales today announced multiple format commissions in key territories across the globe. These latest deals underpin the company’s commitment to collaborating with partners around the world to create engaging local adaptations of A+E’s slate of proven hit formats.
The new sales include:
Alone: Alone, the self-shot ultimate survival competition series that has been a critical and ratings success for seven seasons on The History Channel in the US, with an eighth season set to premiere in June, recently premiered its first season on Discovery+ Sweden as Ensam I Vildmarken. This is the format’s third successful launch in the Nordics, as the fifth season of Alone’s Danish iteration, Alene I Vildmarken, premiered as number one in its time slot on DR-1 in March, and Norway premiered its version of the format, Alene, in 2017.
Forged in Fire: In Latin America, the Spanish-language format Forged in Fire (locally, Desafio Sobre Fuego) will return for its fourth season on The History Channel LATAM. Also a ratings hit domestically, Forged in Fire follows outstanding bladesmiths from across the region as they compete to create a gamut of weapons, from the traditional to the exotic.
The Unexplained: The History Channel Latin America premiered a Spanish-language adaptation of the domestic History Channel hit series The UnXplained, a premium mystery format that attempts to get to the truth behind the most bizarre and mysterious events ever reported. Hosted and executive produced in the United States by William Shatner, the Spanish-language format is hosted by actor, stand-up comedian, and producer John Leguizamo.
“A+E Networks is fortunate to have a catalogue rich with engaging formats that deliver ratings and appeal to a broad global audience,” said Ellen Lovejoy, SVP Head of Sales for America and Formats. “We are thrilled that these series, that have already found great success in the US, will continue to build and connect to audiences around the world.”
These newest commissions follow earlier news that Generation Dating, A+E’s premium dating format that has two strangers -one younger and one older- become each other’s matchmaker, has been picked up by Virgin Media Television in Ireland for a full season commission.
Generation Dating initially aired as a one-off pilot in Q1 of 2020, and was given funding by the Broadcast Authority of Ireland (BAI) to continue following critical and ratings success. It boasted the best performance in the slot year to date, growing double digits versus the prior four weeks viewing, and quadrupled its year-over-year time slot across key demos. Additionally, Generation Dating was nominated for a prestigious Rose D’Or award by the European Broadcasting Union TV Committee, in the category of Reality and Factual Entertainment.
Bride and Prejudice, another premium dating format that consistently ranked first or second in its time slot throughout its entire second season on A+E’s domestic channel Lifetime, recently aired a successful first season on NPO in the Netherlands. The format has become a ratings hit across multiple territories, with versions of the series in Australia and the UK consistently outperforming across all key demographics.
Meanwhile, the UK iteration of The Rap Game, an A+E Networks® competition format that follows young, undiscovered rappers from all walks of life as they battle it out for a recording contract with an industry powerhouse, recently won the Broadcast Digital Award for Best Entertainment Programme, and was nominated for both an Edinburgh Festival Award and a BAFTA.
