Following a deal for Sony Pictures Television’s Timeless yesterday, its hot new sitcom Kevin Can Wait has also been picked up by the UK’s Channel 4. The Kevin James-starring comedy debuted on CBS last month with over 13.2M viewers and continues to be the No. 1 new comedy on Total TV and the No. 2 comedy with adults 25-54. The series is also headed to China’s iQiy and India via Viacom 18’s Comedy Central; New Zealand’s TVNZ has also acquired while Turner has taken it for 20 Latin American countries and OSN will broadcast in the Middle East. The series charts the ups and downs of a newly-retired police officer who is looking forward to spending more quality time with his family but quickly discovers he faces tougher challenges at home than he ever did on the streets.
Amazon
Thunderbirds Are Go in China. ITV Studios Global Entertainment has sold the first season of the rebooted classic series to the Middle Kingdom’s CCTV. This marks the first time the 50-year-old brand has ever been aired in the country. Produced by ITV Studios and Pukeko Pictures in association with Weta Workshop, Thunderbirds Are Go is the re-imagining of the children’s series which uses a mix of CGI animation and live-action miniatures. Originally created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, the updated series is airing in over 40 countries; most recently, it was acquired by Amazon Prime in the U.S.
Channel 4
The UK’s Channel 4 has further ordered War Child, a timely documentary following the stories of four child refugees as they attempt to make their way from their war-torn homes in the Middle East and Afghanistan to safety in Europe. Lightbox, the company founded by Oscar winning producer Simon Chinn (Man On Wire, Searching For Sugar Man) and Emmy Award-winning Jonathan Chinn (American High), is producing with Jamie Roberts (The Jihadis Next Door) directing. FremantleMedia is introducing to buyers here at Mipcom. The story is told from the point of view of the children as they embark on their epic and dangerous journeys, beginning from a refugee camp in Northern Greece. Exec producers are Simon and Jonathan Chinn and Lightbox’s Katie Buchanan.
