MIPTV round-up: Protagonist launches ‘The Kings’ for global sales; David Beckham preps biography project; ViacomCBS strikes format deals

The Kings

Protagonist launches ‘The Kings’ for global sales

UK-based distributor Protagonist Pictures is launching global sales of Box To Box Film’s boxing docuseries The Kings at MIPTV this week.

The four-part series, made by Box To Box in association with Ingenious Media was directed by Mat Whitecross (The Road To Guantánamo) and produced by James Gay-Rees (Amy, Senna), Paul Martin (Maradona) and Fiona Neilson (Supersonic, Coldplay: A Head Full Of Dreams) for Showtime in the US, where it will debut on the network and its on-demand platforms on 6 June.

The series explores the fierce rivalry between ’The Four Kings’ – boxing legends Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto ‘Hands Of Stone’ Duran, Thomas ‘Hit Man’ Hearns, and the late ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler.

“Set against the backdrop of one of the most turbulent and fascinating periods of modern US history, The Kings is a must watch docuseries for both serious boxing fans and those completely unfamiliar with the sport. We can’t wait to discuss and share exclusive footage from this incredible show with buyers from around the world,” said Dave Bishop, CEO of Protagonist Pictures.

David Beckham

David Beckham preps biography project

David Beckham’s UK prodco Studio 99 is developing a series based around the life story of the British football star and company founder.

Speaking on a session at the virtual MIPTV yesterday, Beckham said that he had been inspired by sport documentaries such as last year’s Netflix miniseries The Last Dance.

The former England football captain revealed that he is currently putting together a team to work on the show, in an interview with Fulwell 73 co-founder Ben Winston, and said that “now is the right time to tell it,” adding: “There are so many different chapters that have gone on in my career. The upsides, the downsides, the children, the family, there are so many layers of it.

“We’re just putting the team together now. We’ve not decided on a director yet. I want to surround myself with people that are going to help tell the story. There are so many people that are going to help tell this story in a way that no one has ever heard it before.”

The interview came on the same day that it was announced that Studio 99 is partnering with Warner Bros.-backed Twenty Twenty to produce a football mentoring show front by Beckham for Disney+, titled Save Our Squad.

Ex On The Beach

ViacomCBS strikes format deals

ViacomCBS International Studios Distribution has struck several new format agreements within the comedy and reality genres with partners around the world.

Among its comedy sales is its first-ever format deal in English-speaking Canada for the Comedy Central show Roast Battle, which has been taken by Bell Media’s CTV Comedy Channel. The 8 x 30-minute series will be produced by Just For Laughs and Counterfeit Pictures for release later this year.

In Latin America, meanwhile, it has signed a deal with Teledoce in Uruguay to renew Comedy Central talk show format, La Culpa Es De… (Blame it On…) for a second season.  The series, titled La Culpa es de Colon,is produced by Kubrick Media.

Reality deals include an agreement with Germany’s Mediengruppe RTL’s TVNOW to bring to life a new lesbian dating show, Princess Charming. Produced by Seapoint, this new local version is a spin-off of the original format Finding Prince Charming, and is slated to premiere on TVNOW in spring 2021.

In addition, the distributor has further extended its partnership with Mediengruppe RTL Germany to bring a third season of Finding Prince Charming and a second season of Ex On The Beach to local audiences as TVNOW original commissions.

Love Island US

‘Love Island’ heads to Czech Republic & Slovakia

Broadcasters TV Nova in the Czech Republic and Markíza in Slovakia have ordered a local version of ITV Studios reality format Love Island.