with Carlton U.K.

Alliance Communications and Carlton U.K. Productions have signed a two-year deal to develop and coproduce television productions for the u.k. and North American markets.

Alliance has been talking to the major itv company ‘ever since the u.k. market sorted itself out,’ says Alliance Productions president Steven DeNure.

Under the agreement, Alliance and Carlton will cofinance and share worldwide distribution rights, creating a joint fund of an undisclosed amount for production.

First on the list is Van Helsing, a two-hour special to be produced out of Los Angeles about Dracula’s killer in the Bram Stoker novel. The volume of production resulting from the deal remains to be seen, says DeNure.

DeNure says the agreement is part of a wider alliance between the u.k. and Canadian markets. ‘There are not many coproductions between Canada and the u.k., and part of it is because the u.k. market has been in turmoil for a number of years. This deal is part of a change.’

It’s an old story, he continues. ‘There has been a smaller number of broadcasters relative to (the u.k.’s) population. As each broadcaster’s audience share decreases, they can’t pay the same licence fees and they have to look for other ways to finance productions.’

DeNure says the u.k. market is healthy for Canadian programming, with competition lining up to buy Due South and The Boys of St. Vincent.

Carlton, created out of the recent merger of u.k. broadcasters Carlton TV and Central TV, produces Soldier, Soldier, Peak Practice and Class Act, among other programs.