Shaftesbury sells Murdoch

Shaftesbury Films has closed deals for both Life with Derek and The Murdoch Mysteries. The Toronto outfit has signed a deal with licensing firm JTMG as the agency of record for Derek, and has handed the 13 x 60 run of its Murdoch murder series to Granada International.

Shaftesbury says JTMG, fronted by Joy Tashjian, will rep Derek across North America, with a special focus on publishing, electronics, mobile, apparel and accessories. The California-based company is also said to be working on a merchandising campaign that will make its debut at the Licensing International Expo in June.

JTMG also represents titles including Ricky Sprocket and Deal or No Deal. ‘We’ve searched for a brand that appeals to the ever-elusive and extremely important tween demographic,’ said Tashjian in a statement on Tuesday.

Granada, in a separate announcement, says it will launch The Murdoch Mysteries at MIPCOM this fall. The series is set to air here on Bravo! and on UKTV and follows a number of similar crime-solving MOWs, all set in Victorian Toronto. The MOWs were also handled by Granada.