Lionsgate

Lionsgate has partnered with comedian Kevin Hart’s production company Hartbeat Digital to launch OTT platform Laugh Out Loud. The over-the-top VOD service will be the exclusive carrier of all original content created by Hart, outside of his theatrical and live touring activities. One of the first shows being developed for the service is an original hidden camera series starring the actor. The streaming service will also include other content curated by Hart and shows featuring emerging comedy stars  and social media celebrities, including a series starring the most-viewed content creator on Facebook and Vine, Logan Paul. In addition to the OTT service, Lionsgate, Hart and game developer Fifth Journey are collaborating to create a social adventure mobile game, which will see players become high-profile comedians with Hart as their mentor. Laugh Out Loud is the third OTT service Lionsgate has backed. The studio launched Tribeca Shortlist in 2015 and is set to premiere the Comic-Con HQ streamer this summer.

Proper Rights

Proper Rights has acquired global distribution rights to new Mike Holmes’ reno series, Holmes and Holmes (6 x 60 minutes), premiering this fall on Shaw Media’s HGTV Canada specialty channel. The Toronto-based distributor will take the series to the global market at  MIPTV next week.

eOne

eOne has licensed AMC Studios’ martial arts drama Into the Badlands to carriers in more than 260 international territories, including Amazon in the U.K. and Germany; HBO in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden; and AMC Global in over 125 countries. The announcement was made shortly after AMC renewed the series for a 10-episode second season. eOne handles the international distribution for AMC Networks’ original scripted series.

Tricon

Tricon Films and Television has acquired the first two seasons of Emotion Pictures’ scripted drama Forgive Me. Read more about the deal here.

CBC

CBC has picked up the broadcast rights to seasons three, four and five of APTN series Blackstone. Read more about the deal here.

Space

The second season of Space’s in-house-produced after show After the Black has been picked up for U.S. broadcast by BBC America. Read more about the deal here.

Photo credit for Kevin Hart image: Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com