Global broadcasters green-light UKTV blue-light programming
Details
Editor
| 29 January 2019

UK content producer, originator and developer DRG has placed a number of popular and long-running ‘blue-light’ factual series from British broadcaster UKTV with a range of broadcasters around the globe.

The range of programming covers subjects from police and paramedics to helicopter rescue teams. For example, Inside the Ambulance uses rig cameras inside the vehicles to give what is said to be a unique perspective on emergency call out in the UK.

Inside the Ambulance is produced by Brown Bob Productions for UKTV’s Really channel. Series four, five and six launched simultaneously at MIPCOM 2018 and there are now 60 episodes available. DRG will launch series seven and eight at MIPTV this year. Foxtel (Australia), TV4 (Sweden), S+ (Portugal) and Alliant Content (Latin American and Indian VOD) have all acquired series four, after previously acquiring earlier seasons, while New Zealand’s SKY TV has acquired all three new series, bringing its total to six.

Produced by Air Television for Really, Helicopter ER, with a second 20 x 60’ series recently launched, follows the work of flying doctors and paramedics of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service. DRG has struck deals for both series of the title with TV4 (Sweden), SKY TV (New Zealand), Alliant Content (Australian and Indian VOD) and Vitaya (Belgium). Discovery Poland, Alliant Content (US/Canadian VOD), S+ (Portugal) and adRise (US VOD) have recently acquired the first series.

Also on the slate are Trauma Rescue Squad (10 x 60’), from Air Television for Really; Cops (32 x 60’), a Rawcut TV production for W; Cop Car Workshop (10 x 60’), produced by Blink Films for UKTV’s Dave.

Commenting on the commissions, Elin Thomas, DRG’s EVP of sales said: “UKTV has succeeded in commissioning a slate of incredible shows where unique levels of access and extraordinary characters combine with action and emotion to produce compelling and authentic factual content. It is no surprise that these returnable series are really starting to sell well and we are delighted that we will have more episodes to represent internationally later this year.”