UK’s C4 partners with BossaNova on Egypt & Cambodia history shows

Paul Heaney

UK pubcaster Channel 4 has partnered with Paul Heaney’s BossaNova Media to co-finance two history series.

Ancient Egypt By Train is being produced by Spark Media (Chateau DIY) and fronted by author Alice Roberts. The 4 x 60-minute series follows Roberts as she uses one of the world’s oldest rail networks to explore one of the world’s most ancient civilisations.

Lost Temples Of Cambodia is a 3 x 60-minute show from Bright Button Productions that explores the vast temple complex at Angkor Wat and reveals the people who lived and worshipped there.

Both series were acquired by C4’s senior acquisitions manager, Polly Scates, who said: “We’re always looking for a new way to bring history to the channel and these series are a wonderful way to do just that.”

The deals comes 18 months since BossaNova was acquired by Herbert Kloiber’s Night Train Media, which provided funds to co-create and co-fund projects. The firm has also been operating ‘development days’ to create projects with broadcasters.

Heaney added: “When we turbo charged our Development Days to a hybrid online/in person pitching event last year, our aim was to build on our success in matching the right ideas with the right broadcasters to get great television made, rather than just talked about.

“I reckon we’ve struck gold with Ancient Egypt By Train and Lost Temples Of Cambodia. I’m predicting that the only thing that won’t be a mystery about these two compelling series is that they’ll go on to sell around the world.”