ESSENTIAL DEALS FOR NGTI

Published: 23 November 2006

NGTI (National Geographic Television International) is pleased to announce a raft of new deals for on some of its recently acquired programming from UK independent producer Essential Television and Film.

France 5 has acquired seven of Essential’s TRIBAL ODYSSEY hours including: PIGS, PLANES AND THE PRICE OF BRIDES (the Megani, Western Papua), PATH TO MANHOOD (the Mek, Papua New Guinea) and THE HIMBA FROM NAMIBIA. Odisea in Spain has acquired TRIBAL ODYSSEY: THE ZOE FROM THE AMAZON, while Greek terrestrial broadcaster Skai has acquired all 17 TRIBAL ODYSSEY hours, plus the 3 x 52 series TRIBAL RITES.

TV Fakta in Finland/Sweden and Skai, Greece have acquired TWISTED CITY TALES (3 X 52), an Essential series looking at the dark sides of London, Boston and Berlin.

Current affairs documentary COCAINE TRIANGLE (1 x 52) has been acquired by Skai Greece, Channel 5 St Petersburg, Russia and Metro TV in Indonesia, while history series QUEST FOR GOLD (5 x 52) has been acquired by the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation. Essential’s other history shows include MUMMIFIED EGYPT (1 x 52) which has been licensed to BTV in Bulgaria and Skai, MODERN MUMMIES (1 x 52) looking at the mummification process undertaken to preserve Lenin in Russia, which has been acquired by Skai, and ZULU WARS (3 x 52) also acquired by Skai and CBC in Cyprus.

New Acquisitions
Still with independent producers, NGTI announces that it has acquired two programmes from Canadian producer Summerhill Television. ESCAPE TECH (1 x 52) looks at the science and technology of escaping death, while RIDDLE OF THE POLAR SKY (1 X 52) is a scientific quest to unlock the secrets of the Aurora Borealis.

Edwina Thring, NGTI’s head of acquisitions and co-productions comments: “Essential Television & Film has a unique catalogue of programmes, particularly in the field of ethnography and history and they provide a wonderful compliment to our existing catalogue. We are pleased to have concluded so many deals so early in our relationship with them and look forward to converting further interest over the coming months.”

Edwina continues: “NGTI is keen to work with like-minded producers and has been actively acquiring high-quality factual programming this year. Summerhill programmes have a good fit with the NGTI brand and catalogue and we are delighted to be representing these shows.”