Altice to coproduce Sky’s Riviera

Groupe Altice’s push into high-end original drama has seen it become a coproducer of Sky’s Côte d’Azur-set crime drama Riviera.

Altice Studios was established last year after French free and pay TV operator Altice bought into SFR Media, and the firm has now joined the coproduction slate for Riviera, along with distributor Sky Vision.

The ten-part drama is set in the world of the super-rich living and playing in the French Riviera, and follows American actress Julia Stiles as a fish-out-of-water widow, whose art collector husband has been murdered in mysterious circumstances.

Sky Vision, which is Sky’s sales arm, brokered the agreement to bring Groupe Altice on board, and comes ahead the launch of a new French premium pay TV channel this summer.

“As part of Altice Group’s investment in original creation since Altice Studio’s launch in October 2016, this partnership with Sky Vision is a new step in our strategy to become a strong player in the production industry and to reach our ambition to propose the best series to our clients,” said Altice CEO Michel Combes.

The pay TV business’s director of original creation, Nora Melhli, said that “following the series Medicis, Sirens and Taken, Riviera will be a different and strong proposal for our audience.”

Riviera will go out on as a Sky exclusive in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Italy and Austria this year, with Archery Pictures and Primo Productions coproducing.

The series is getting its worldwide premiere screening at MIPTV in Cannes, near where it is set, on April 3, at 6.30pm.