Asian nets bag 300 hours from TVF

Asian broadcasters have licensed more than 300 hours of programming from UK-based distributor TVF International.

Japanese pubcaster NHK has acquired specials such as Ice, Sweat and Tears and The Real Sherlock Holmes, while commercial rival NTV took shock doc  Transgender Kids.

History in Japan and India acquired Special Forces, with the latter also adding religious reality series Holy Switch. The pan-Asian Australia Network also acquired the latter series.

Discovery in China has bought a number of specials and series, including the 12x30mins Hot to Look at a Painting, CCTV went for World War II docu-drama The Real Inglorious Bastards and Classic Car Rescue.

Another Chinese broadcaster, LIC, has picked up The Changing Face of…, and Lens Media has acquired a 35-hour package of lifestyle shows such as Art of the Night and Prison Families.

In South Korea, Dream N Company has acquired a package of programmes including history docs, OBS and Local MBC have acquired aerial-themed shows and CNC has gone for The World’s Festivals. Thailand’s TrueVisions has acquired a 50-hour travel, lifestyle and history content package.

“TVF have a continuing demand from Asia-Pacific buyers for high-end specialist factual, especially for topical subjects relating to events such as the Olympics, TV drama releases and trends in the region,” said Will Stapley, senior sales executive, APAC, for TVFI.

TVFI is launching new shows such as The Food Detectives, Street Hospital and the Brad Pitt-narrated environmental science series e2 water at the upcoming Asia TV Forum.