ITV sells scripted series into China

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV will air a pair of ITV-distributed dramas on its CCTV-8 channel, which reaches 200 million people.

Liberty Global’s content and channels arm Chello Zone brokered the deal for Murdoch Mysteries and Britannia High. Chello Zone subsidiary Encore International programmes the Everyday Jiayi programming block on the CCTV channel.

Chello Zone has picked up seasons one and two of Murdoch Mysteries, the detective drama set in Toronto in 1895. It also acquired musical drama series Britannia High, again from ITV Studios Global Entertainment. Both shows aired on ITV1 in the UK. They will be dubbed into Mandarin for their Chinese airing.

James Ross, regional director Asia, ITV Studios Global Entertainment added, “We are very pleased to be working with Chello Zone and Encore and to see two of ITV Studios’ exciting series arrive at CCTV, China’s most important broadcaster.”