CBC and Radio-Canada have acquired Paramount+ original drama The Ex-Wife (pictured) in a deal with U.K. distributor All3Media.

The Ex-Wife, which debuted on Paramount+ in the U.K. last year, is streaming on CBC Gem in English Canada and will be available on Radio-Canada in the French-language market.

The deal is part of sales All3Media has made in North America, Europe, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand, for the drama series.

The Ex-Wife is coproduced by Night Train Media, Clapperboard Studios and BlackBox Multimedia, and is based on author Jess Ryder’s book of the same name. It stars Céline Buckens (Showtrial), Tom Mison (Sleepy Hollow), Janet Montgomery (New Amsterdam) and Jordan Stephens (Feel Good).

Sinking Ship Entertainment

Toronto-based Sinking Ship Entertainment has signed several new broadcast deals for three shows in its distribution catalogue.

French-language broadcaster Télé-Quebec has picked up Australian tween drama The Unlisted (pictured, 15 x 24 minutes) to launch on Jan. 8, 2024. Aquarius Films produces the live-action show, which is about twins who discover the government is manipulating kids with technology, for ABC Australia and Netflix. It premiered in 2019 and has run for one season so far.

Norwegian public broadcaster NRK has acquired BBC Studios Kids & Family drama Phoenix Rise (20 x 30 minutes), joining existing broadcasters ABC Australia and YLE in Finland. The BBC premiered season one on its iPlayer streamer in March. Aimed at 10- to 12-year-olds, this live-actioner follows six teens as they make their way through school.

On the animation front, Sinking Ship has tapped Colombia’s Metro TV to distribute 2D-animated series Alma’s Way (65 x 22 minutes) in Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Panama and Ecuador. Fred Rogers Productions and Pipeline Studios are behind the show, which stars a six-year-old Puerto Rican girl in the Bronx who explores Latin culture while learning how to think through challenges and solve problems. It’s aimed at kids four to six and was created for PBS Kids, where it premiered in 2021.

Level 33 Entertainment

British-Canadian filmmaker Alison Murray’s feature film Ariel: Back to Buenos Aires has been acquired by Toronto’s Level 33 Entertainment for distribution in the U.S. and Canada.

Ariel: Back To Buenos Aires is written and directed by Alison Murray, who is also a producer alongside Felicitas Raffo, Pamela Livia Delgado and Simone Urdl. It will be available on video on demand on Sept. 12.

Developed with Toronto’s The Film Farm and produced by Buenos Aires-based Cepa Cine, the film had started shooting in 2020 before production came to a halt due to the pandemic. Production wrapped in June 2021 and post-production took place in Toronto and Buenos Aires, wrapping in fall 2022.

The film centres on the story of a brother and sister who return to Argentina, discovering their birthplace and long-kept family secrets and the “heart-wrenching reasons behind their parents’ emigration.”

WildBrain, Téléquébec

WildBrain and Téléquébec have picked up TeamTO’s action-comedy series Jade Armor from APC Kids. The 26 x 26-minute series is produced by TeamTO, which also has offices in Toronto, in partnership with France Télévisions and Super RTL. Jade Armor, aimed at 6-10 year olds, is currently airing on Radio-Canada in Canada.

Paramount+

Paramount+ is the new home for South Park in Canada. The entire catalogue, including episodes for season 26 that released earlier this year, was made available on the platform in Canada as of Sept. 1.

The catalogue contains all 315 available episodes, movies, specials, as well as the previously aired Paramount+ exclusives South Park Post Covid, South Park: Post Covid: The Return of Covid and South Park The Streaming Wars part one and two. Additional installments will be added once available.

Seasons one to 21 of South Park are also available on Pluto TV in Canada on the South Park channel. All available episodes of the 21 Seasons of the show are available on-demand in English and in French.

With files from Kidscreen

Photo courtesy All3Media