Showcase: BBCWW on dramatic crime spree

Broadcasters around the world have acquired premium crime drama programming from UK-based BBC Worldwide this week.

The deals total more than 900 hours of programming, and comes as 700 international buyers descend on Liverpool, England, this week for the annual BBC Worldwide Showcase event.

In France, Canal+ has acquired season four of Luther (pictured), season two of Prey and season two of Happy Valley, while France 3 has bought Happy Valley season one, Prey and Unforgotten.

In Germany, Degato bought Maigret and Sherlock: The Abominable Bride, while season for of Sherlock and season two of Prey have gone to WDR. ZDF has bought the recent Luther special, while ZDFneo has renewed Inspector Lynley.

In Sweden, SVT and TV4 have acquired programming, with the former taking an overall 232 hours including Sherlock and Luther, while Denmark’s DR and TV2 were also keen buyers. Pubcasters in Norway and Finland, NRK and YLE, bought shows including Prey and Happy Valley.

Czech television, Pickbox in Croatia and Channel One in Russia all secured Sherlock: The Abominable Bride, while in Hungary CLT UFA and MTVA took shows.

Israel’s Hot and YES DBS both took programming for local pay TV, while African VOD platform Showmax took a package including Ripper Street and Luther.

More than 200 hours were sold into Asia to broadcasters such as AXN Mystery in Japan and PBC in South Korea, while the ABC in Australia renewed a number of shows from the BBC’s commercial arm.