Blue Ant International

Toronto-headquartered Blue Ant International has inked a raft of deals for Central and East Europe at NATPE Budapest. Russia’s First HDTV ordered around 135 hours from the company’s catalog. The company picked up 60+ hours of programming like Hope for Wildlife (13 x 60 minutes); Kitty 911 (10 x 30 minutes), a series about volunteers who run Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue; season one and two of Strange Creatures (13 x 30 minutes); season one and two of Wildlife Icons (14 x 1 hour), a series following a number of iconic African animals; and The Big Feed (13 x 30 minutes), a look behind the scenes at the world’s best zoos. First HDTV has also acquired factual entertainment and kids programming titles like Taste of the Country (13 x 30 minutes) about a team who execute rustic-chic dream events in South Pond Farms, a reality series about 15 backpackers across South East Asia – Wild Ride (16 x 30 minutes) and the kids series Make It Big, Make It Small (14 x 11 minutes).

Meanwhile, Poland’s ITI Neovision S.A. also inked a 50-hour package deal for its channels Planete+ and CANAL+. ITI Neovision S.A. nabbed Rooted (5 x 1 hour), a show about South Africa’s most iconic trees and landscape; Africa’s Claws and Jaws (4 x 60 minutes) about the most dangerous animals; Over Australia (2 x 60 minutes), an exploration of the contient; Untamed Valley (3 x 60 minutes) about Zambia’s Luangwa Valley and habitats; the a character-led animal series, Life’s Journey (3 x 60 minutes); Arabian Inferno (5 x 60 minutes) about the Arabian Peninsula; and the insects that play a vital role in ecosystems across Europe in Macro Worlds (3 x 60 minutes).

Poland’s TVN has also made acquisitions from Blue Ant International. TVN picked up Blue Ant Media-produced Crazy Beautiful Weddings (10 x 30 minutes) about a DIY expert who helps couples plan and execute dream weddings; the confessional series I’ve Got Something To Tell You (6 x 60 minutes) and Asia-focused programming like Boomtown Asia (8 x 30 minutes) and Man Made Marvels: Asia (6 x 60 minutes).

Russia’s Beaver TV also acquired two lifestyle series from designer Sarah Richardson. Season one of Sarah Off the Grid (6 x 1 hour), follows the designer as she tries to build an off grid dram home, while season one of Sarah’s Real Potential (14 x 30 minutes) shows prospective buyers three homes with a sale-stopping disaster.

AMC Networks also acquired content for its Hungary, Slovakia and Czech Republic networks with Fish of the Day (10 x 30 minutes) led by Clarke Gayford who offers tops and tricks for a successful fishing expedition; the real-estate series What’s For Sale With a View? (26 x 30 minutes); and the documentary, Jago: A Life Underwater (1 x 1 hour). AMC also picked up nature series like Secret Life of the Kangaroo (3 × 1 hour), Secret Life of the Koala (2 × 1 hour), Secret Life of the Tasmanian Devil (2 × 1 hour) and Secret Life of the Wombat (2 × 1 hour).

Russia’s United Media snagged some nature and wildlife titles from Blue Ant International including Animal Empires (6 x 1 hour), which journeys to the beautiful and dangerous places that play host to wildlife’s migrations and congregations; Camp Zambia’s The Big Dry (3 x 60 minutes) about The Luangwa Valley in Zambia and its challenges; and Secret Life of the Koala (2 x 60 minutes).

FTV Prima from the Czech Republic has scored over 60 hours of content like The Mind of Mark DeFriest (1 x 90 minutes); America Over the Edge (13 x 60 minutes), an aerial view of the country’s coastlines; season one and two of The Weapon Hunter (12 x 60 minutes) following Paul Schull as he tracks down military specimens; Underwater Wonders (5 x 60 minutes) about Africa’s underwater ecosystems and a look at Zambia’s wildlife in Tales from Zambia (7 × 60 minutes).

Poland’s Polsat Cafe has ordered a 25+ hour package that includes season six of interior design series Candice Tells All (13 x 30 minutes); Post My Party (13 x 30 minutes), which follows Lynzie Kent as she guides a post host through a series of handmade projects; Holiday Makeover (6 x 30 minutes); and select episodes of Celebrity Legacies (6 x 30 minutes) and Celebrity Damage Control (8 x 60 minutes).

Meanwhile, TV2 selected a 25 hour programming package. TV2 also purchased Post My Party (13 x 30 minutes), Holiday Makeover (6 x 30 minutes), Taste of the Country (13 x 30 minutes) and Wheels That Fail (18 x 30 minutes).

Travel and Adventure from Russia also snapped up family vacations gone wrong in Bad Trip (13 x 60 minutes), while Russia’s National Sport Channel MATCH TV grabbed the documentary Goalie: Life and Death in the Crease (1 x 90 minutes) about the NHL’s legendary goaltender Clint Malarchuk. Poland’s WP picked up X-Weighted Families (26 x 30 minutes) and Slovenia’s RTV acquired The Secret History of Knitting (1 x 60 minutes).

Corus Entertainment

Corus Entertainment has entered into a sales partnership with The Podcast Exchange (TPX). Under the agreement, TPX will sell Corus podcasts in Canada and the U.S. The broadcaster’s podcast network features programming from across its 39 radio station and original podcasts like The Ongoing History of New Music. In addition, Corus plans to introduce a slate of new original podcasts over the next 12 months, according to the release. This deal follows the recent appointment of Chris “Dunner” Duncombe to the position of director of podcasting and streaming. TPX will work directly with Duncombe and his team on all North American sales.

Digital Canaries

Hamilton’s Digital Canaries has acquired the film and TV rights Andre C.W.’s upcoming children’s story series, Eddie’s Alien Adventure. The book follows a young boy who confronts his own personal loneliness by imagining a friendship with an alien.

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