Deals round-up: ITVX & Cosmote TV say ‘So Long, Marianne’; Fremantle does ‘Battle In The Box’; Be-Entertainment to shop ‘Celebrity Farmsitters’

So Long, Marianne (Source: Redpoint)

ITVX & Cosmote TV say ‘So Long, Marianne’

ITVX in the UK, Cosmote TV and Star Channel for Greece, and Movies Best HD for Cyprus have struck pre-sale deals for upcoming drama series So Long, Marianne, with distributor Cineflix Rights.

ARD’s Fabfiction (NDR, SWR, WDR, Germany) has also joined as a co-producer alongside the original co-producing partners NRK (Norway) and Bell Media’s Crave (Canada).

Co-produced by Redpoint Productions, Tanweer Productions, and C3 Media, So Long, Marianne tells the story of Canadian singer and poet Leonard Cohen, and his muse Marianne Ihlen who inspired the titular song.

Fremantle does ‘Battle In The Box’

Fremantle Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Portugal have all optioned Seoul-based Something Special’s comedy reality gameshow Battle In The Box in a multi-territory deal for the format.

Battle In The Box is a comedy entertainment and reality hybrid, where comedians and celebrities battle it out for pride, prizes and coveted floorspace. In this unique show, two celebrity teams enter an empty box divided by a movable wall armed only with a toothbrush. With no beds, chairs, or home comforts, they only have each other for company as cameras watch their every move.

Throughout the day and night, teams earn space and luxuries by conquering physical and mental challenges. Victory expands their living area, but more room for one team means less for the losers, as the Box’s sliding wall continuously shrinks their space. With more and more challenges around the clock, the celebrities must be strategic to secure their space.

Be-Entertainment to shop ‘Celebrity Farmsitters’

Be-Entertainment has acquired the worldwide distribution rights to Celebrity Farmsitters, the upcoming factual entertainment format from Roses are Blue .

The fact-ent format will launch on VTM in Belgium in early December and follows the show host and a succession of celebrities as they take charge of a farm while the farmers take a break.

Together they do everything it takes to keep the farming practices going, from cultivating the soil to growing crops, raising livestock to selling products.

Gepke Nederlof, MD of Be-Entertainment, said: “Farmers all over the world have one thing in common: it’s virtually impossible for them to take a vacation and leave their farms behind. This new format offers farmers a rare opportunity to take a break from their hard work on the farm. This show offers us a warmhearted celebrity interview topped with a good dose of entertainment and we’re very proud to represent the rights internationally.”