Banijay Rights, the leading distribution arm of Banijay Group, continues to secure new deals for hit factual format brands, Portrait Artist of the Year and Landscape Artist of the Year, the long-running ratings-winning competition series that seek the country’s most talented artists.

 

Following the ratings success of season one, Portrait Artist of the Year has been recommissioned for a brand new second season by Danish public broadcaster DR1. The 6 x 60’ series is produced by Banijay Group’s Mastiff Denmark and began airing this month. Locally known as Danmarks Bedste Portraetmaler, Portrait Artist of the Year was originally produced by Storyvault Films for Sky Arts.

 

More than 70 episodes of the Storyvault Films’ award-winning UK programmes have been produced over nine series so far. In the US, NBC Universal’s digital service, Bluprint, the destination for lifestyle learning formerly known as Craftsy Unlimited, also recently picked up secondary rights in the US to seasons one and two of Portrait Artist of the Year following its premier on Ovation TV: America’s only arts network.

 

The news comes hot on the heels of the recently announced commission of Landscape Artist of the Year (LAOTY) by Blue Ant Media, which will see one talented competitor crowned Canada’s Landscape Artist of the Year. As a group of painters take on different landscape painting challenges, which showcase their unique artistic talents, expert judges circulate among them, assessing their talents and skills. Each week a winner will be chosen to progress to the semi-final. Time-lapse segments ensure viewers do not miss a moment in each artist’s thoughtful and creative progression from blank canvas to finished work. The Canadian version of Landscape Artist of the Year will be modelled on the original UK format.

 

The brand continues to be a smash hit on Sky Arts with casting calls already out for LAOTY 2019 and PAOTY 2020. The latest series of Portrait Artist of the Year is due to air later this month, and alongside its sister brand Landscape Artist of the Year is the highest rating programme ever for Sky Arts. The series won a Broadcast Digital Award for Best Popular Factual Programme in 2018 and has sold into over 25 territories to date.

 

Banijay Rights holds international distribution rights for both format and finished tape for Portrait Artist of the Year and Landscape Artist of the Year.