ITV Studios announced a deal with VICE Media, which will see it add nearly 2,000 hours of VICE content to its 90,000+ hour catalogue, as well as represent future projects. In addition, it announced the sale of the drama Ludwig to multiple territories, including Spain.
Following an extensive industry-wide evaluation, VICE Studios (the studio arm of the VICE Media portfolio business) has selected ITV Studios as its exclusive global distribution partner. The deal will see ITV Studios add nearly 2,000 hours of VICE content to its 90,000+ hour catalogue, as well as represent future projects in the VICE Studios’ pipeline.
As the exclusive distributor of VICE’s library, ITV Studios adds a large catalogue of popular scripted and non-scripted content, including docu-style investigative shows to its portfolio, complementing ITV Studios’ diverse range of premium drama, blue chip natural history and true crime, as well as its world-renowned entertainment brands. VICE content contributed, includes shows such as the highly successful Dark Side of the Ring franchise, United Gangs of America and VICE on HBO. ITV Studios’ recently launched label Zoo 55 will be instrumental in exploiting VICE’s catalogue and brands in both the digital space and FAST channels across social media as well as connected tv platforms.
The partnership also includes future VICE Studios produced content, including new scripted series from VICE’s UK production hub, producer of the highly successful Gangs of London series on Sky.
Jamie Hall, Co-President of VICE Studios said, “We have been looking for a distribution partner that matches our creative ambition to work with us across our diverse and dynamic slate. With their flexible, creative deal-making, digital first thinking and scale, the exceptional team at ITV Studios led by Ruth Berry, will ensure our programmes gain greater global exposure.”
Ruth Berry, President Global Partnerships and Zoo 55, said, “Adding VICE’s unique catalogue to our distribution portfolio and managing their brands in digital exploitation and FAST channels represents an exciting and rare opportunity to strengthen both our content pipeline and digital footprint. I am hugely excited about the opportunities for both parties and am looking forward to working closely with the VICE Studios’ team.”
Deal negotiations were led by Joe Patrick for VICE Media and Julie Meldal-Johnsen and Graham Haigh at ITV.
ITV STUDIOS SECURES SWATHES OF DEALS WORLDWIDE FOR LUDWIG
ITV Studios also announced a swath of global sales for the contemporary and stylish, smash hit detective drama Ludwig that will see it airing in 85 international markets with more under discussion.
Produced by Big Talk Studios, part of ITV Studios, in association with That Mitchell And Webb Company and commissioned for a second season, Ludwig was the BBC’s biggest new scripted show of 2024. It attracted over 9.5 million viewers (28-day figure), making it the largest scripted show since 2022 and the biggest launch for a comedy since at least 2018.
Seasons one and two of Ludwig are a BritBox co-production for the United States and Canada where season one will premier on 20 March. Both seasons have also been snapped up by ZDF Germany which comes on board as a new co-production partner. Telequebec for French Canada, Telefónica in Spain, Warner Bros. Discovery’s free-to-air channel Giallo in Italy, SVT Sweden, DR Denmark, YLE Finland, NRK Norway, RUV Iceland and BBC Poland have also acquired two seasons.
Season one has been acquired by NPO Netherlands, VRT Belgium, Prima Group in the Czech Republic, Telia Lithuania and Telia Estonia, RTL Hungary and Pickbox in Croatia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Bosnia, Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro, as well as Zoomer Media in a second window deal for English-speaking Canada.
In the Asia Pacific region, Ludwig has found a home on Seven Network in Australia, TVNZ in New Zealand, Pumpkin in China, Now TV in Hong Kong, BBC India, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan and NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) in Japan. Meanwhile BBC First has taken the show in a panregional deal for Africa.
Tom Clark, EVP, Global Sales & Commercial Strategy, Global Partnerships at ITV Studios said, “Ludwig is simply in a league of its own. Having broken records for BBC, it has captured the hearts of British viewers and we can’t wait to see what success lies in store for our international partners.”
The show follows John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor, whose identical twin brother James mysteriously vanishes. John takes on his brother’s identity to uncover the truth behind his disappearance. But there’s a twist: John has lived a quiet, uneventful life, designing puzzles and avoiding the outside world, while his brother is a high-flying DCI leading a major crimes team in Cambridge. Filling in for James leads to hilariously high stakes and serious crime-solving. For the second season, David Mitchell (Peep Show, Back, Upstart Crow) returns as Ludwig, alongside Anna Maxwell Martin (Motherland, Until I Kill You) as Lucy Betts-Taylor, the wife of John’s missing brother James.
Created and written by Mark Brotherhood and produced by Big Talk Studios the binge-worthy comedy-drama has been described as ‘the funniest show on TV this year’ (The Guardian) and ‘a comedy triumph’ (Daily Telegraph), Ludwig has been praised by both critics and viewers alike. Series two will again be written by Mark Brotherhood. The executive producers are Kenton Allen, Mark Brotherhood, David Mitchell, Kathryn O’Connor, Toby Welch and Chris Sussman. The new series was commissioned by Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy Commissioning. The BBC Commissioning Editor is Tanya Qureshi. Ludwig is produced in association with ITV Studios, which also handles international distribution.
