After setting down in China for the first ever China-UK TV summit, Passion has announced a raft of sales into the region, continuing its strong business in the territory.
Most recently, Passion has completed a deal which sees over 25 hours of content head to the LeiHe group of channels in China. LeiHe has picked up two revealing The Weather Channel series Turbine Cowboys (4 x 30’) and Lights Out (4 x 30’), both part of the Braving The Elements strand (26 x 30’). The group also licensed Fireflight Productions’ factual series Submarine Patrol (3 x 60’), Season 3 of Mentorn Media’s clip-show World’s Scariest (Season 1-3: 12 x 60’), Mentorn’s crime series Witness (4 x 60’) and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network’s Kidnapped By The Kids (10 x 60’).
Passion’s latest non-linear deal in China will see SITV’s pay VOD service air World Of Wonder’s antique-hunting series Man Shops Globe (Season 1-2: 16 x 30’), Atlas Media’s Alien Invasion: Are We Ready? (2 x 60’) and Mentorn Media’s natural disaster documentaries Earth Shocks: Mega Flood (1 x 60’), Earth Shocks: Mega Volcano (1 x 60’) and Superstorm USA: Caught On Camera (1 x 60’). Also licensing for its Pay VOD platform, WanFang has picked up 61 hours of content from Passion. Highlights from the package include OWN’s Commander In Heels (1 x 60’), The Weather Channel’s revealing Secrets Of The Earth (9 x 30’) and Sundance TV’s Big Ideas For A Small Planet (Season 1-3: 39 x 30’). Deals with LeiHe, SITV and WanFang were brokered in conjunction with New China Media.
For its feed into China and Hong Kong, Phoenix licensed the first Season of the hit log home building series Timber Kings (Season 1: 10 x 60’, Season 2: 14 x 60’). Produced by Paperny Entertainment, Timber Kings follows the best log cabin builders on the planet as they hand-craft stunning homes for the rich and famous all over the globe. Whether performing difficult installations halfway across the world, dealing with temperamental clients, managing work-yard egos, fighting the elements – or just each other – the stakes could not be higher. Timber Kings is the highest rated show in HGTV Canada’s history. Passion also finalised a deal with Discovery Networks, which picked up Scripps Networks International’s global treasure hunting series Gem Hunt (14 x 60’) specifically for China.
Attending the China-UK TV summit representing the Tinopolis Group, Hana Palmer, Passion’s Head of Sales – Formats and Scripted, said, “We are excited to be part of a pioneering initiative to create new business in China. We are looking forward to building on existing relationships in the region, as well as creating new ones and showcasing all that the Tinopolis Group has to offer.”
Nick Tanner, Passion’s Senior Sales Executive for China, said “It’s fantastic to see such a range of programming entering China with lifestyle and reality complimenting strong sales of high end documentary. There’s huge opportunity for growth in the region and our presence at the TV Summit will ensure Passion’s position in China is further secured.”
