SBS pay channel captivated by Hostages

Australian pay TV channel STUDIO has acquired Israeli drama Hostages.

The 10x60mins drama will launch on the SBS-owned channel in August, marking the first time an Israeli-language series has run on the network.

Hostages has already sold to broadcasters such as BBC Four in the UK and Canal+ in France.

The series follows a surgeon (Avelet Zurer) who is ordered to sabotage routine surgery on the president, or have he family killed. It is produced by Chaim Sharir (The Naked Truth) and written by Omri Givon and Rotem Shamir.

The show launched in Israel on Channel 10 simultaneously with a US remake, which went out on CBS last broadcast season. The US version was not picked up for a second run.

“We are delighted to bring this groundbreaking program to Australian audiences for the very first time,” said Laura Glassman, head of programming and production for SBS Subscription Television.