London-based distributor Cineflix Rights has acquired the worldwide rights to Tempting Fortune, produced by the U.K. Voltage TV.

The division of Montreal-headquartered Cineflix Media will introduce Tempting Fortune‘s (6 x 60; pictured) format and first season to international buyers at the 2023 London Screenings, which will take place from Feb. 27 to Mar. 3, according to a news release.

The competition series, commissioned by Channel 4 for the U.K. and The Roku Channel for North America, follows 12 strangers who are given a cash prize at the beginning of a multi-week journey through the wilderness and must resist the temptation to spend it in order to win.

TSN

Bell Media’s sports specialty channel TSN has acquired media rights to PGA Tour Live. The acquisition includes 4,300 hours of exclusive coverage of the PGA Tour throughout the season.

The acquisition will support the launch of the subscription-based streaming TSN+, which is available on the TSN app and website, according to a news release. TSN+ features coverage of the NTT Indycar series; augmented NFL feeds for playoff games and the Super Bowl; NCAA football and basketball games; the 2023 XFL season; and access to the TSN+ doc collection, among others.

Paramount+

Paramount+ has acquired the exclusive Canadian rights to the ITN Productions-produced Harry: The Interview. The 90-minute program features Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, as he sits down for an interview with ITV News at Ten presenter and journalist Tom Bradby. The interview covers topics such as his personal relationships, details about his mother’s death, and his future plans. Harry: The Interview, which was filmed in California, was released in Canada on Jan. 10 to commemorate the publication of Prince Harry’s autobiography, Spare.

Spin Master

Spin Master is powering up to take its entertainment brands into the robot toy category with the purchase of Hexbug from Innovation First International. The sale is expected to close in February, and it marks Spin Master’s 28th acquisition since the company launched in 1994.

Based in Toronto, Innovation First launched its Hexbug toy line in 2007 with an assortment of five robotic beetles for kids ages three and up. The range now features more than 100 products, ranging from more mechanical insects, to customizable RC cars and branded playsets.

Once the acquisition closes, Spin Master plans to distribute the Hexbugs brand internationally, and will also leverage the technology to move other IPs in its portfolio into the robot toy category, said global president and CEO Max Rangel in a release.

Rangel told Playback sister publication Kidscreen that acquisitions will be a major part of Spin Master’s long-term growth strategy as the company aims to expand its business in toys, entertainment and digital games. In 2022, the company bought Canadian puzzlemaker 4D Brands International and Swedish game developer Nørdlight.

Channel 5

British broadcaster Channel 5  has picked up CG-animated series Sesame Street Mecha Builders, which will make its U.K. debut in Five’s Milkshake! preschool block with all of its supporting characters speaking with a British accent in order to appeal to local viewers.

The 52 x 11-minute series is a copro between Sesame Workshop and Toronto-based Guru Studio (True and the Rainbow Kingdom). The series debuted in the U.S. last year on Warner Bros. Discovery’s Cartoonito preschool programming block and streaming platform HBO Max. It also airs on Treehouse TV in Canada.

With files from Kidscreen

Image courtesy of Cineflix Rights