Deal round-up: Discovery buys Lebron James series

Discovery Networks has bought Latin American distribution rights for the new LeBron James series Cleveland Hustles.

The show follows NBA superstar LeBron James and his business partner and friend Maverick Carter as they give local entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch business ideas and rejuvenate Cleveland neighbourhoods.

In its latest deal with international producer and distributor GRB, announced on the first day of NATPE Miami, US-based Discovery also secured Untold Stories of ER, which explores the lives of doctors and some of the cases they have worked on.

Michael Lolato, senior VP of international distribution, said: “We look forward to announcing further deals for Latin America and beyond from this year’s NATPE.”

Other deals on the first day of NATPE include Lionsgate Television shopping format and series rights to upcoming Fox reality series Kicking & Screaming to Sony Pictures Television Networks-owned Hungarian channel Viasat, and to Banijay Group in France, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

Elsewhere, Rupaul’s Drag Race has been sold in Latin America and in international territories by London-based Passion Distribution.

Viacom International Media Networks Americas has bought the rights for season eight of reality competition TV series Rupaul’s Drag Race for Comedy Central. Sweden-based Kanal 11 bought seasons five to seven, and Thailand’s Line TV has secured seasons two to eight.

A Venezuelan cable and satellite channel has bought the exclusive rights to broadcast a beauty and modelling factual TV series. TLT (La Tele Tuya) has secured the 8x60mins TV show, The Fashion Hero. Miami-based 7A Media negotiated the sales, who hold the distribution rights to the first season and the Latin American format of the show.

Meanwhile, Singapore-based Bomanbridge Media has announced deals with Discovery Networks Asia, CNN and EBS.

Discovery Asia has bought a number of natural history documentaries including Hippo Supremacy, River Battlefront, and Tanzania’s Best Kept Secrets.

EBS in South Korea’s purchases included Strip the Cosmo, Racoons-The New European, and Drain the Titanic. In addition to also buying Drain the Titanic, CNN in Southeast Asia also secured the rights to Cobra Mafia, Creative Killers, and People’s Health.

Fox Networks Group UK has also picked up a second season of docu-drama Mars, produced by RadicalMedia and Imagine Entertainment.