News round-up: Turkish SVOD Exxen adds Korean dramas; Abacus to sell ‘Best Dog India’; Sky orders Bulletproof S4

Tunnel

Turkey’s Exxen acquires 150 K-drama hours

Recently launched Turkish SVOD platform Exxen has acquired more than 150 hours of South Korean content to fill its K-Drama strand, following a deal with distributor Eccho Rights.

The deal includes three titles from Eccho’s parent company CJ ENM and four others from SBS, as well as the streaming rights to SBS’ 2020 K Pop Festival.

The CJ ENM shows are romantic dramas Cheese In The Trap and It’s Okay That’s Love, as well as crime thriller Tunnel.

The SBS titles, meanwhile, include Giant, Brilliant Legacy, The Inheritors and Pretty Ugly.

“Turkey has been adapting Korean formats for many years now so we know that the storytelling works for Turkish audiences,” said Handan Özkubat, director of Turkish drama at Eccho Rights.

“Therefore, it is no surprise that we are now seeing a demand for the original series as readymades as well, and it is a great opportunity for Eccho Rights with our unique links to South Korea.”

Best Dog India

Abacus to distribute ‘Best Dog India’

UK-based Abacus Media Rights has taken international distribution rights for Best Dog India from Blue Ant Media-owned Asian indie Beach House Pictures.

The 1 x 60-minute documentary, which is narrated by actress Kate Beckinsale, follows dog owners participating in the Kennel Club of India’s nationwide tournament to select the country’s top dog.

“India never fails to surprise, inspire and touch us with its passionate characters and amazing places,” said Donovan Chan, creative director of Beach House Pictures. “We are proud and thrilled to work with Kate and Abacus on rolling out this film worldwide and look forward to presenting more exciting stories from Asia.”

Bulletproof

Sky orders Bulletproof S4

Sky in the UK has recommissioned its original action-drama series Bulletproof for a fourth season.

The fourth 8 x 60-minute outing is scheduled to begin shooting later this year in and around London, with news of the new order coming just days ahead of the third instalment, Bulletproof: South Africa, launching on Sky One and streamer Now TV.

Allan Niblo, co-founder of British indie Vertigo Films, which produces the show, said: “Bulletproof is a show that pushes the boundaries, and this series will be bigger, bolder and more rebellious than ever, giving viewers something they haven’t seen before.”

NBCUniversal Global Distribution handles international sales of the series.

Civil Servant

GoQuest acquires Serbian dramas

Global indie content distributor GoQuest Media has acquired exclusive worldwide distribution rights to two new Serbian dramas, following a deal with telecommunications and cable TV operator Telekom Srbija.

The distributor has picked up two seasons of Civil Servant (24 x 50-minutes’) a spy thriller produced by Telekom Srbija and Film Danas, as well as Debt To The Sea (11 x 50-minutes), a mystery drama produced by Telekom Srbija and Monte Royal Pictures International.

“As the New Year sets in – with viewer demand for high-quality series rising – we are excited to team up with Telekom Serbia, who have been a steady leader in the recent boom of premium content emerging from Serbia,” said Paula McHarg, head of Europe and North America at GoQuest Media.”