Fremantle has unveiled its latest raft of deals across Asia for a selection of its flagship docu and drama series. With a spotlight on star-studded shows in the natural history, documentary, and drama genres, the content powerhouse successfully closed key sales deals across Asia’s premiere pan-regional and territory broadcasters.

The year opened with key sales in the blue-chip nature documentary category, which continues to shine across diverse territories and languages. The centrepiece is a collection of series led by BAFTA award-winning naturalist Steve Backshall. Shark with Steve Backshall, dedicated to the world’s biggest and most misunderstood predators, will broadcast on Bilibili in China, PCCW’s Now TV in Hong Kong, KBS in South Korea and Mediacorp in Singapore. Furthermore, Whale with Steve Backshall, a pioneering documentary series shedding new light on nature’s iconic, mysterious and deeply threatened whales, has found a home on Bilibili in China and pan-regionally with BBC Earth. The eagerly anticipated Croc Watch with Steve Backshall and Hippo Watch with Steve Backshall will premiere regionally on BBC Earth, while Malaysia’s RTM (through Nafalia Corporation) has joined the ranks of broadcasters airing Steve’s earlier Expedition with Steve Backshall in Asia, alongside BBC, Discovery, RTHK, Mediacorp and Thai PBS.

Beyond the nature genre, the The Decades collection, spanning  six seasons of content and executive produced by Emmy Award-winners Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, is making its way to PCCW’s Now TV for audiences in Hong Kong. Produced by Playtone, CNN, and originally broadcast as a CNN USA Original, the series examines our recent history through insights from people at the heart of history – featuring compelling interviews with actors, musicians, journalists, and eyewitnesses to the most important events of each decade. This is essential viewing for audiences who want to unpick the past and understand how it shaped the present.

From Fremantle’s acclaimed drama offering , Asian audiences will experience the timeless love story Alice & Jack, which brings back Mad Men screenwriter Victor Levin, Oscar nominee Andrea Riseborough and Star Wars’ Domhnall Gleeson for a star-crossed lovers tale that explores perseverance, passion, and the true sense of partnership over the course of a profound sixteen year relationship. Honest, intimate, and surprisingly funny, it asks the seminal question of our time: are the bonds between us stronger than the forces that would tear us apart? The series will be available for viewing on the BBC across Asia, and on Bilibili for Greater China.

Additionally, Sullivan’s Crossing, starring One Tree Hill’s Chad Michael Murray and Gilmore Girls’ Scott Patterson and based on the New York Times bestselling novel of the same name, is set to premiere across Asia on Rewind Networks’ Hits Now pan-regionally, PCCW’s ViuTVsix in Hong Kong, and Mediacorp’s Channel 5 in Singapore. Set against the stunning Nova Scotia coastline, Sullivan’s Crossing is a visually arresting, emotionally compelling drama series that tackles themes of family, community, conflict, love and loss in a genuine and meaningful way that is sure to connect with a global audience.

Kit Yow, VP Distribution Asia, International at Fremantle said: “2024 has kicked off with an exciting momentum and broadcaster demand for Fremantle’s distribution business in Asia, with many of our incredible shows being picked up by both new and longstanding partners in the territory. We are delighted to announce these deals, which provide Asian viewers the opportunity to experience a breadth of high-end international content that continues to entertain audiences around the globe. We can’t wait to launch these incredible series with our local partners and offer a slate of new content to clients later in 2024.”