News round-up: Canal+ Luxembourg picks up Oble dramas; Strong Studios sets ‘Hall Mills Murders’; Alpha TV says “Let’s Make A Deal’

No Return

Canal+ Luxembourg picks up Oble dramas

Paris based production and distribution outfit Oble has inked sales for its series Early Birds and No Return to Canal+ Luxembourg (M7 Group) for its CEE markets (Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania), CANAL+ Polska and Life Goes On to TV5Monde.

Oble struck a deal with Canal+ Luxembourg for the two seasons of Ukrainian young adult series Early Birds. The two-part 8 x 50-minute drama produced by Starlight Media will reach audiences in Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania as part of the company’s local SVOD offerings.

Alongside Early Birds, Canal+ Luxembourg also acquired No Return (6 x 52-minutes), the Agatha Christie-esque murder-mystery produced by Sphere Media.

Meanwhile, Life Goes On has been picked up by TV5Monde. The Swiss family dramedy with a modern superwoman at its heart deals with the small daily worries and big existential crises of an almost functional family

Originally produced by Point Prod and broadcasted on RTS, the six-part drama starring Audrey Dana was presented at La Rochelle’s 2022 Festival de la Fiction.

Strong Studios sets ‘Hall Mills Murders’

US-based Strong Studios is developing Hall Mills Murders, a true crime drama series based on 1922 case that captured the nation, flooded the tabloids and began America’s obsession with true crime.

On an early September morning, two dead bodies are discovered in the countryside. Identified as the town’s married priest, Edward Wheeler Hall, and his mistress, Eleanor Mills, the bodies are arranged as if the couple were nestled in each other’s arms. Upon closer look, the pair had been brutally murdered and salacious love notes are torn and scattered at their feet.

The mystery of their deaths whips the press into a frenzy, threatens to destroy one of the world’s wealthiest families, and sends a “down on his luck” reporter on a chase to break the story of a lifetime.

Michael Angeli will serve as showrunner and executive producer on the 8 x 60-minute series, with Toni Ann Marcolini, David Ozer and Scott Weinstock also exec producing.

Alpha TV says “Let’s Make A Deal’

Greek network Alpha TV has picked up the format rights to game show Let’s Make A Deal from Marcus/Glass Productions and Cant Stop Media.

The local adaptation, entitled To Pio Megalo Pazari (The Big Bazaar) will be executive produced by Foss Productions (an Ogilvy company) and produced by Alpha TV.

The deal marks the latest territory expansion for the program since Marcus/Glass Productions acquired the IP for the show.

Damien Porte, partner at Can’t Stop, said, “We’re pleased to get this daily commission in such a competitive market. Access primetime is the ideal slot for this legacy format, which has already been adapted in 23 countries from Asia to the Americas.”