News round-up: BBC lands Kiwi drama ‘The Gone’; Paramount strikes Multichoice pact

The Gone (Source: BBC)

BBC lands Kiwi drama The Gone

BBC Four in the UK has acquired New Zealand-based mystery thriller The Gone from Red Arrow Studios International RASI).

The 6 x 55-minute series follows the journey of Irish detective Theo Richter (Richard Flood) who teams up with a Kiwi detective, Diana Huia (Acushla-Tara Kupe), when a young Irish couple go missing from a rural New Zealand town.

The Gone was created by Michael Bennett, Yvonne Donohoe and Anna McPartlin, with Peter Burger and Hannah Quinn directing. It is co-produced by Kōtare Productions, Keeper Pictures and Kingfisher Films, in association with Southern Light Films in New Zealand and RASI handling sales.

Sue Deeks, head of BBC programme acquisition, described the show as “an atmospheric and suspenseful mystery thriller, guaranteed to keep viewers guessing until the very end.”

Paramount strikes Multichoice pact

Paramount Global Content Distribution has struck a licensing deal with Multichoice in South Africa to create a Paramount+ branded destination on the pan-African platform.

The agreement is part of Paramount’s strategy to expand the Paramount+ brand globally, including making it available as a direct-to-consumer streaming service through bundled partnerships.

Similar deals have been struck with Cosmote in Greece, Streamz in Belgium, Blast TV in Philippines and JioCinema in India.