BSkyB’s US buying spree continues

Fresh from inking an output deal with HBO and taking Mad Men from the BBC, UK pay TV platform BSkyB has bought another US series, this time picking up Endemol-distributed cable comedy Hot in Cleveland.

The comedy series is produced by TV Land and follows three best friends who by chance set up home in Cleveland after accidentally finding themselves there while en-route to Paris. Endemol Worldwide Distribution (EWD) handles international sales and has already shopped it to CTV in Canada and the Nine Network in Australia.

The deal was brokered by Louisa Forsyth, acquisitions manager, Entertainment, at Sky and Veronique Verges, Endemol’s executive director Europe.

Cathy Payne, CEO of EWD said: “We’re particularly pleased to be announcing this latest deal here in Cannes.  The UK is such a crucial market for a show like this and Sky really is the perfect home for the series.” More deals for the show will be announced soon, she added. 

Endemol has moved more heavily into the scripted programming business in recent times; the company recently had a western pilot greenlit from US cable network AMC – Hell on Wheels, written by Joe and Tony Gayton.