Foxtel exec to launch Sixteen South sales arm

Belfast-based animation company Sixteen South is launching a distribution division, with an exec from Australian pay TV firm Foxtel heading the unit.

Sixteen South Rights will focus on sales of in-house intellectual property, with Foxtel Gillian acquisitions manager Gillian Calvert-Ridge returning to the UK to lead it as head of distribution.

It will initially focus on Lily’s Driftwood Bay, which previously went out through The Jim Henson Company, and the division will also handle new shows as they are developed.

“We really enjoy doing pre-sales on all of our new properties to get them over the line, so it feels very natural for us to begin to distribute our own wholly-owned properties ourselves,” said Sixteen South creative director and founder Colin Williams. “I’m thrilled to welcome Gillian back home to Belfast and to join our Sixteen South family.”

Williams added American Greetings Entertainment would continue to sell Sixteen South preschool toon Claude and Germany’s WDR would remain with the rights to Wildwoods.