ITV snaps up Animal Planet content

The international sales arm of British commercial broadcaster ITV has snapped up the distribution rights to 150 hours of Animal Planet content.

ITV Studios Global Entertainment is to distribute Animal Planet series outside of the US.

This is a major blow to the distribution arm of Discovery Communications, which previously sold much of the Animal Planet programming.

ITVSGE will distribute series including Gator Boys, Call of the Wildman, North Woods Law, Too Cute!, Puppies vs. Babies and Bayou Prison and will launch these shows at MIPTV in Cannes later this week.

The deal was struck between Maria Kyriacou, managing director of ITV Studios Global Entertainment and Rick Holzman, senior vice president of programming and scheduling at Animal Planet.