DLT Raydar Announce New Factual and Children's Titles For MIPTV
Cannes. 3 April 2014. Independent distributor DLT Raydar Rights LLP (DLTRaydar), the joint venture with DLT Entertainment and Raydar Media, today announced a raft of new titles following inaugural deals with Sundog Pictures and Grasshopper Productions ahead of MIPTV.
CEO Alison Rayson brokered the three title factual deal with Johnny Webb’s, fast rising Indie Sundog Pictures and will showcase two of the three titles at MIPTV, critically acclaimed BBC Three series Reggie Yates: Extreme South Africa and How to Find the Perfect Flatmate which recently aired on Channel 4. The final title, £999 Weddings is in production and will be available to international buyers as a presale at the market.
Launching at this year’s market is acclaimed BBC Three documentary series Reggie Yates: Extreme South Africa. The three-part series, presented by UK broadcaster Reggie Yates, sees Yates take an in-depth look at contemporary South Africa 20 years after the country’s first free elections and received consolidated ratings of over 2 million for the series. Yates’ very personal journey sees him live with three different communities for seven challenging days and offering young viewers a unique insight into this complex and often misunderstood nation. The series was directed by Ruhi Hamid and Sam Wilkinson, executive produced by Sam Anthony and series produced by Tom Williams.
International buyers will be able to pick-up investigative documentary £999 Weddings for the first time as a presale. The one-off special film looks at the astronomical costs faced by love-struck couples hoping to get hitched and whether you really can get married for as little as £999.00. The 50’ documentary is produced and directed by Tanya Stephan and executive produced by Sam Anthony.
Announcing the deals, Alison Rayson said: "Sundog is an exceptionally talented Indie and our deal with them demonstrates our passion for acquiring thought provoking high quality original factual programming for global distribution. We are also thrilled to be building on our children's portfolio with the acquisition of the stunningly beautiful animated children's and family special Mouse and Mole at Christmas. Based on Joyce Dunbar's classic books, this timeless special aired on BBC One on Boxing Day to much acclaim and we are excited to be introducing it to International audiences."
Johnny Webb Co-Founder & MD of Sundog Pictures added: 'I've been blown away by the response in the U.K. to Reggie Yates: Extreme South Africa, and I was heartened to see so many comments from people in other countries asking to see this series.
"I couldn't think of a better company than Raydar to bring this important documentary series to a wider audience."
The team will also be bringing Michael Beilinson’s directorial debut, How To Find The Perfect Flatmate to MIPTV. The 1x50 programme looks at the very modern day dilemma of finding the perfect flatmate. From elaborate interview panels to speed-flatmating events, this funny documentary, which aired on Channel 4 in the UK, looks at every aspect of the flatmate finding experience.
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.
DLT/Raydar are located at R7.C34 and executives attending include: Don Taffner Jr, Alison Rayson, Greg Rocco, Chris Rayson and Shane Lowe.
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.
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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.