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PBS brings ‘DI Ray’ to the US as Jed Mercurio-produced drama lands global sales
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DI Ray
PBS in the US has picked up both seasons of DI Ray for broadcast across its stations and streaming services, among a slew of new international deals for the US crime drama.
The multi-rights deal with Hat Trick International will see PBS Distribution take the 10 x 60-minute series broadcast across PBS’s 330-plus member stations in the US and streaming on PBS Passport, the PBS Video App and the PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel.
Other recent international deals for the show include with BritBox International, where it has already rolled out across multiple territories, including South Africa, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and will go to a second window in Australia. Sales have also been closed with RTP in Portugal, Cosmote TV in Greece, Virgin Media in Ireland, Yes TV in Israel and NHK in Japan, where it will air on AXN Mystery. In addition, Acorn Media has taken the premiere rights for its SVOD platform in New Zealand
Produced by HTM Television, the production company co-owned by Jed Mercurio (Line of Duty) and Hat Trick Productions in association with Hat Trick International and Anton Corp, the show is created and written by former Line of Duty actress Maya Sondhi. It debuted as a 4 x 60-minute series on UK comcaster ITV last year, with a second 6 x 60-minute series to be delivered later this year, and is executive produced by Mercurio, Jimmy Mulville (Trigger Point) and Madonna Baptiste (The Stranger).
The series centres on Rachita Ray, a police officer who takes on a case that forces her to confront a lifelong personal conflict between her British identity and her South Asian heritage. Parminder Nagra is cast in the title role and stars alongside Gemma Whelan and Jamie Bamber.
Sarah Tong, director of sales at Hat Trick International, said: “While DI Ray tells a very British story, the questions it raises about racism, identity and belonging are universal — as is demonstrated by these sales to territories as diverse as Israel and Greece.”
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