Endemol acquires Screentime dramas
16 May 2012
• Endemol secures international distribution rights for drama series’ Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms and Crownies from Screentime Pty Ltd
• Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms premiered on Network Ten Australia on 15th May 2012
• Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms premiers to an audience of over 1.26 million and is No. 1 in its timeslot
• Crownies commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and premiered in 2011
• Endemol to launch both series at MIPCOM 2012
Endemol, a world leader in entertainment programming, today announced that they had entered into an agreement with award-winning television production company, Screentime Pty Ltd, to acquire for distribution the highly anticipated Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms and legal drama Crownies.
Cathy Payne, Chief Executive of Endemol Worldwide Distribution, said: “EWD are thrilled to be working with Screentime on the distribution of these wonderful series’. Screentime has an outstanding production record with Australian drama and we look forward to a long and very successful relationship”.
Des Monaghan, Executive Chairman of Screentime, said: “There is no one better at Distribution than Cathy Payne and her team, so I am thrilled that we have this opportunity to fulfill a long held ambition to work with Endemol.”
With operations in Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, Screentime Pty Ltd was formed in 1996 by Des Monaghan and Bob Campbell. They are a multi award winning specialist independent production company with an outstanding list of over 40 productions in all genres. Their productions include the award-winning dramas Underbelly, Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet and The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant.
Launching on Network Ten Australia on Tuesday 15th May with an audience of over 1.26 million and winning its timeslot, the six-hour drama Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms tells the true story of two motorcycle clubs, and two men, on a journey from loyalty to rivalry... with deadly consequence.
On September 2nd, Fathers Day 1984, two motorcycle clubs – the Bandidos and the Comancheros – went to war at a public swap meet. After a brief but violent battle, seven people had been shot dead, including a young innocent bystander, and some forty other club members needed hospitalisation. Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms is the story of how that day came to pass.
Delving into the extraordinary world of the Department of Public Prosecutions and its young eager lawyers, Crownies is a 22 x 1 hour drama commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Australia which premiered in 2011. The series follows five solicitors as they face the pressure and endearing madness of a modern single life – in a fast paced workplace that highlights the moral dilemmas and big issues facing an apparently civilised society. In a world that exists solely to see ‘wrong-doers’ brought to justice, and where the average age of the solicitors is 27, there is a big divide between these young solicitors and the barristers at the top. Yet they are the initial point of contact with the police, and it is they who do most of the liaising with the victims and the witnesses – and recommend what goes to court. They are committed, idealistic and hard working but their lives away from the office are riddled with aspirations, explorations, fragile relationships and partying.
Endemol Worldwide Distribution will launch Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms and Crownies at MIPCOM 2012.
For further information please contact:
Shannon Becker
Head of Marketing
Endemol Worldwide Distribution
Tel: +612 9 202 8504
Email: Shannon.becker@endemol.com