BBC Worldwide to sell Amazon UK original

BBC Worldwide has confirmed it will sell Amazon Prime Instant Video’s first original series, The Collection, internationally.

Yesterday, the BBC’s commercial arm and Amazon jointly greenlit production of the Oliver Goldstick-created period fashion drama, with Lookout Point and Federation Entertainment coproducing.

A BBCWW spokeswoman confirmed the company held the international distribution rights.

The Collection is set in the world of French haute couture just after the Second World War, and will launch exclusively in 2016 for Amazon Prime subscribers in the UK.

This marks the first time Amazon has ordered a UK-created original, and comes as Netflix readies its first British drama, The Crown. The British content market is getting increasingly crowded, with pay TV service Virgin Media the latest to enter the exclusive race today with its acquisition of on-demand rights to Ash Vs the Evil Dead.