DLT|Raydar Send Our Girl To MIPTV
London. 26 March 2013. New Indie Distributor DLT/Raydar Rights LLP will be launching critically acclaimed BBC One primetime drama Our Girl at this year’s MIPTV market. The compelling single drama is one of a number of new titles the distributor will showcase at MIPTV.
Our Girl (90”), which premiered on Sunday night to rave reviews in the UK and above average ratings, is a redemptive tale of hope which tells the story of disenfranchised inner-city tearaway Molly Dawes (Lacey Turner) whose lack of future opportunities lead her to enlist with the Army. The gripping and emotional BBC in-house drama was written by Tony Grounds (Births, Marriages and Deaths and Chancer) and directed by David Drury (Ashes to Ashes, The Paradise).
The drama, which was acquired in a deal brokered by Alison Rayson’s Raydar Media and Hassan Rumani, Commercial Executive, Drama and Comedy at the BBC Commercial Agency, is one of a number of titles the newly formed Distributor will be taking to MIPTV’s 50th anniversary market including the groundbreaking and Emmy Award-winning interactive teen and family thriller, Reservoir Hill.
The series, created by leading New Zealand independent producer KH, was a ratings hit on TVNZ’s on demand channel where it outperformed hit dramas such as ER and Coronation Street. The show’s innovative technology and gripping storylines were such a success that it migrated to TVNZ’s main channel where it aired as a series of TV Movies. DLT/Raydar has international rights to both the finished programme and the format.
Also from KHF is new teen and family romantic comedy Girl Vs Boy which is currently in production for a second series. The series, described as the world’s first ever romantic “whodunit”, follows the adventures of 18 year old Maxine, who like a modern day “Emma” is so busy trying to fix her friends’ broken romances that she fails to notice her own developing right in front of her.
The Indie is also quickly building a new factual slate of programming and has recently acquired Sundog Pictures’ latest Channel 4 commission Flatmates, which takes a wry and witty look at both hipsters and middle-aged, middle-class singles and families who fight to find the perfect Flat Share.
Children's content will also feature on the Distributor’s new slate following Raydar Media’s recent deal with Bafta Award Winning Children's Producer and Animation Studio Blue Zoo. Olive the Ostrich, originally commissioned by Nicklodeon, is a preschool series of 104 episodes narrated by Rolf Harris and has been recommissioned for a further 52 episodes. The series airs in the UK on leading children's programming slot Milkshake on terrestrial broadcaster Channel 5.
DLT/Raydar will also be re-launching the addictive DLT Entertainment classic gameshow format Talkabout. The show enjoyed much success when first launched in 1989 and aired in a host of major territories including the UK, US, Sweden and Canada with consecutive recommissions.
Alison Rayson and her sales team are looking to establish new production and broadcast partners for the word association game show format internationally while Mark Maxwell Smith reworks it for the US market.
Don Taffner Jr, President DLT Entertainment said: “Like MIP TV, this is DLT Entertainment’s 50th anniversary and we’re delighted to be bringing our original portfolio combined with new offerings from our recently formed joint venture DLT/Raydar. We look forward to celebrating our momentous anniversary with content to suit every international broadcaster at MIPTV!”
DLT Entertainment’s multi award winning My Family will also be on offer as a global scripted format. One of the UK’s most iconic sitcoms and one of the BBC’s longest ever running sitcoms My Family has been a pioneer in its field in that it united a team of British and American writers to huge acclaim, and the DLT/Raydar team are looking to find deals to use the 127 British scripts to replicate the same success in other markets around the world.
Alison said: "I am excited to be at MIP TV's 50th anniversary launching a new Indie Distributor DLTRaydar in partnership with Don Taffner Junior. The business will combine our strengths to build a diverse, innovative and original slate from the world’s best format creators and independent producers"
DLT Entertainment’s US office is handling the finished programme sales for DLT/Raydar. The newly established Indie Distributor was created through the union of DLT Entertainment Ltd and new Rights Management company Raydar Media. The new venture was announced at MIPCOM last year.
DLT/Raydar is a joint venture between Alison Rayson’s newly formed rights management company Raydar Media and independent producer/distributor DLT Entertainment Ltd.
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About DLT Entertainment
With offices in London, New York and Los Angeles, DLT Entertainment Ltd. is engaged in every aspect of television distribution and production around the world, as well as stage production in the US and in the UK.
Founded in 1963 as a distribution company by Don Taffner Senior, the company added television production to its portfolio in 1977. DLT Entertainment has enjoyed terrific success over the last forty plus years with legendary hits including the multiple award-winning sitcom My Family, As Time Goes By, Three’s Company, Too Close For Comfort and Meet My Folks. In addition DLT has built a reputation as a leading distribution company with classics such as The Benny Hill Show, The World at War, The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood and The Russ Abbot Show.