News round-up: Nine, ProSieben & Viaplay snag Fred’s ‘First On Scene’; Espresso takes in Canadian doc ‘Cynara’; Bomanbridge unveils MIPTV deals

First On Scene

Nine, ProSieben & Viaplay snag Fred’s First On Scene

Viaplay, ProSieben and Nine Network in Oz have struck pre-sale deals with Fred Media for its latest series, First On Scene.

The show has been produced by WTFN and documents acts caught on camera from America’s bravest news cameramen and women as they capture unexpected real-life emergencies, jaw-dropping accidents, and outrageous moments of life after dark in LA.

Pre-sale deals have also been struck with TVNZ (New Zealand) and Play Media (formerly SBS in Belgium), while Viaplay has taken rights in the Nordics, Baltics, the Netherlands and Poland.

Espresso takes in Canadian doc Cynara

Espresso Media International has picked up sales rights to feature documentary Cynara, which was originally commissioned by CBC’s Documentary Channel.

The special, which will make its world premiere at Hot Docs 2023 later this month, follows what happens after a break-in, when a mother calls 911 seeking help for her disabled daughter, Cynara. Hours later, Cynara is dead, and her mother, Cindy Ali, is the prime suspect.

The doc is executive produced by Bryn Hughes and Michelle Shepherd of Frequent Flyer Films and features exclusive access to Cindy, her family, lawyer, witnesses and court documents.

Bomanbridge unveils MIPTV deals

Bell Media in Canada and AMC Networks in Iberia are amnong companies to have struck deals with Singapore-based sales firm Bomanbridge Media.

The US version of Zig Zag Production’s crime series Secrets Of The Interrogation Room has been picked up by Bell for its streamer Crave, while the UK show will air on AMC’s networks in Spain and Portugal.

In the Middle East, MBC’s VOD platform, Shahid, has acquired football documentary A Game Of Secrets, which recently premiered on HBO Max, as well as Warehouse 51 Production’s Murderous History, a six-part series examining the most gruesome and compelling murder mysteries of the past.

In the APAC region, Discovery Asia and SBS Australia have picked up Children Of Shanghai, which tracks how a British man moved to China in 1988 with his wife and six children to found the charity Care For Children.

Other deals include Discovery Asia snagging more than 25 hours of wildlife content, including Another Planet’s Males Vs Females.