Britbox Acquires Key BBC Studios Dramas To Drive Further Growth

BRITBOX ACQUIRES KEY BBC STUDIOS DRAMAS TO DRIVE FURTHER GROWTH

Sarah Kenny Moves Into Expanded Editorial Role Across BritBox and Channels

BritBox will be the new place for Australian audiences to view premieres of some of the biggest shows from BBC Studios with the streamer picking up fan favourites Death in Paradise, Call The Midwife and Silent Witness when BBC First exits Foxtel and Binge on July 31st 2024.  

BritBox will also premiere The Jetty – a new crime thriller starring Jenna Coleman set in an eerie lakeside town where an arson, a missing persons cold case, and an illicit triangle are intricately intertwined . Written and created by Cat Jones and produced by BBC Studios independent production label Firebird Pictures for BBC iPlayer and BBC One, the four-part mystery examines sexual morality, age of consent, grooming, identity and memory.  The series is currently screening in the UK where is has been hailed as the new Happy Valley.

The shows further bolster BritBox’s offering of the largest streaming collection of British drama and comedy, with BritBox subscribers the first to see Don Gilet (Sherwood, EastEnders, Shetland) as the new lead detective in Death in Paradise. Making his debut in a feature-length Christmas special, before a brand-new series is released in early 2025, Gilet will play Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson - who arrives on the idyllic island of Saint Marie from London, and isn’t overly pleased with his new surroundings…  

Sarah Kenny, Head of Content and Editorial, BritBox and Branded Services, Australia and New Zealand, said: “These shows have a huge resonance with Australian audiences and, together with other exciting new and exclusive titles like The Jetty, will drive further growth for BritBox. We are also acquiring more of the most recent seasons of these titles as we build up our collections.  I’m so pleased that BritBox will now be the premiere home of these iconic British dramas.  

Moira Hogan, EVP BritBox International and General Manager Australia, said: “As a specialty streaming service aiming to super-serve fans of quality British TV, we are thrilled to add this trio of much-loved BBC shows to our stable of premiere new releases.”

Sarah Kenny’s New Editorial Role

As Head of Content and Editorial, BritBox and Branded Services ANZ, Sarah Kenny is expanding her role to add programming and acquisition responsibilities for BBC Studios’ local channels to her existing BritBox responsibilities.  Sarah will  have dual reporting into Moira Hogan and Fiona Lang, General Manager, BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand.

Fiona Lang said:  “I’m delighted that Sarah will be combining editorial responsibilities for our channel portfolio with her existing BritBox role, allowing BBC Studios to take a holistic approach to content across these services.  Death in Paradise, Call The Midwife and Silent Witness regularly topped the ratings for BBC First during their time on the channel and their move to BritBox, together with the premiere of The Jetty, is an important step in the evolution of our business as we pursue a truly integrated content strategy following BBC Studios acquisition of 100% of BritBox International earlier this year.”

Notes to Editor:

Praise for The Jetty

•    “could this be the new Happy Valley” – The Guardian 
•    “a nuanced re-examination of sexual politics for the modern age” - Stylist
•    “a compulsive mystery” – The Independent
•    “electric and menacing crime thriller” – London Evening Standard

View the promo for The Jetty here. 

Sarah will oversee editorial for the following channels in Australia and New Zealand: 
Foxtel: UKTV
Fetch: UKTV, BBC Drama, BBC Earth, CBeebies, BBC Kids, BBC Brit
Sky: BBC First, UKTV, BBC Earth, CBeebies

Ends

For further information contact: 
Sue Affleck, BBC Studios,  Sue.Affleck@bbc.com +61 404 604 731
Soraya Calavassy, Neon Black, Soraya@neon.black +61 434 612 018
Richard Hill, BritBox, Richard.hill@britbox.com