ITVS GE sends ‘Bodyguard’ to China

Bodyguard is heading to China.

ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE) has sold mainland Chinese broadcasting rights to the hit drama to Huanxi Media Group Limited, which will stream the title on huanxi.com.

The platform provides domestic and international films as well as scripted TV drama.

Bodyguard was created and written by Line Of Duty creator Jed Mercurio and produced by ITV Studios-backed World Productions. The drama, in which Game Of Thrones actor Richard Madden’s stone-faced protection officer David Budd is charged with the care of home secretary Julia Montague, smashed records for the corporation, consolidating an audience of 15.9m across 28 days – the BBC’s most-watched drama episode since records began in 2002.

Netflix picked up international rights to the show, except for China.

The deal with Huanxi Media was brokered on behalf of ITVS GE by Hyeonza Hong, SVP of sales for Asia.

Ruth Berry, MD of ITVS GE, said: “We are delighted that viewers in China will be able to enjoy Bodyguard. It is a show that epitomises the strength and international appeal of our world class, award-winning scripted content, and this deal means it will now be available across the world in 2019.”