BBC in Deep Water with Australian drama deal

BBC Four has prebought Australian crime drama Deep Water.

The four-parter launches on SBS as part of the Australian pubcaster’s autumn schedule and will launch on BBC Four later in the year.

The show is loosely based on a crime wave that swept Sydney in 1980s and 1990s. It is produced by Australian indie Blackfella Films, with Screen Australia backing.

The series is distributed by DCD Rights, which has also sold the second season of The Code to BBC Four, which ran the first season of the Australian political drama in 2014. The show plays on ABC1 locally.

BBC Four has been a keen buyer of international drama series, acquiring the likes of Trapped from Iceland, Swedish drama Modus, and Danish drama 1864. It faces increasing competition for UK rights to international drama with the likes of Channel 4 and Channel 4-backed Walter Presents also now active buyers.

DCD, meanwhile, has also found US homes for Deep Water and The Code season two, with SVOD service Acorn scooping both.

Nicky Davies Williams, CEO at DCD Rights (pictured), said: “We’re very pleased to announce such a wide range of deals for our current dramas – both Deep Water and the new season of The Code deliver impeccable primetime content which is sure to attract strong ratings.

“The expansion of our drama catalogue and coproduction activities continue to be key accelerators in our growth and these significant deals underline the ongoing success of this strategy.”