Amazon buys Red Rock soap opera

Amazon has picked up US rights to Red Rock, the soap opera that plays on Ireland’s TV3.

The show has launched on the Prime Instant Video streaming service in the US.

Red Rock follows two feuding families – the The Kielys and the Hennessys – and life in a fictional Irish coastal town. It was launched when Jeff Ford was running programming at TV3, before he left for Fox’s international division.

The Irish broadcaster plays the show twice a week. It is a copro between Ireland’s Element Pictures and Company Pictures, the UK prodco that is part of All3Media, and is sold by All3Media International, which struck the US streaming deal.

Steve Macallister, CEO at All3Media International, said: “Red Rock’s hugely talented production team have been very successful in creating an engaging, original ongoing drama which has the high production values, strong characters and well-crafted relatable storylines that will keep viewers engaged and entertained.

“We’re very pleased to bring the series to Amazon in the US – this, alongside Red Rock’s huge popularity in Ireland, offers a fantastic platform upon which to continue to build its success on the international stage.”

Ed Guiney of Element Pictures, added: “I am hugely proud of the wealth of Irish and international talent behind and in front of the Red Rock cameras, whose magnificent work will now be showcased to a whole new US audience. Big thanks to Amazon for opening Red Rock to international reception and All3 Media for relaying it on that journey.”