Round-up: CBS ends ‘MacGyver’; Acorn TV visits ‘Midsomer Murders’; VIS Distribution snags Smithsonian catalogue

MacGyver

CBS ends rebooted MacGyver

US broadcaster CBS is pulling the curtain down on MacGyver’s comeback.

The show was produced by CBS Studios and Lionsgate, but will now end after its fifth season, which is set to end on 30 April.

CBS’s reversioned MacGyver first aired in 2017, more than 30 years after the original ABC crime drama about an ingenious agent first aired.

It was initially directed by James Wan (Saw), with original executive producer Henry Winkler and writer Paul Downs Colaizzo also attached. Sky in the UK, Global in Canada and Fox in Iberia were among international buyers.

VIS Distribution expands with Smithsonian

ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS) Distribution has added more than 400 hours of programming after picking up shows from its factual network Smithsonian Channel.

Content being added to the VIS sales slate includes Reclaiming History: Our Native Daughters, Making Tracks On Mars and Virus Hunting: Cave To Covid.

VIS Distribution has also snagged exclusive global sales rights to A Real Dream (Un Sueño Real), a series that addresses key topics such as gender equality, motherhood and sexual diversity. It is co-produced by Spain’s Exile Content Studio and Creative 7, the multi-platform content company co-founded by basketball star Carmelo Anthony and his producing partner Asani Swann.

“The Smithsonian Channel’s reputable brand and broad range of content is the perfect addition to our now unrivalled factual slate,” said Lauren Marriott, SVP of VIS Distribution. “As we continue to expand our sales portfolio across all genres, we aim to evolve and build to match the growing desires of our global audiences.”

VIS has also sold the first two seasons of Secrets Of The Royal Palaces to American Public Television, while ABBA: Secrets of Their Greatest Hits and The Story Of Songs have been picked up in Poland for Canal+ and Canal+ Family. In Australia, Diana Princess of Wales: In Her Own Words has been acquired by Nine Network.

Acorn TV visits Midsomer Murders

AMC Networks’ Acorn TV has picked up exclusive SVOD and US premiere rights to the latest season of Midsomer Murders.

The deal, struck with distributor All3Media International, will see Acorn TV premiere the first two feature-length episodes of the 22nd season from 19 April. The remaining four feature-length mysteries will debut this fall shortly after production concludes.

Subscribers can already watch the first 21 seasons of the series on demand via the streamer.