Advanced Television

Drama

UKTV Drama, Masterpiece co-commission The Marlow Murder Club

From the creator of hit series Death in Paradise, and the producers of celebrated series Ghosts, comes a newly commissioned TV adaptation of Robert Thorogood’s hit novel The Marlow Murder Club (2×120’) for UKTV’s free-to-air channel, Drama and streaming service UKTV Play. The two-part drama is a co-commission with co-producer and US broadcaster Masterpiece, produced […]

June 5, 2023

Kaleidoscope acquires Tell That to the Winter Sea

Kaleidoscope Film Distribution (KFD) has acquired the international sales rights for UK produced, Tell That to the Winter Sea, an all-female drama exploring and celebrating the deep complexity of femininity and female relationships. Tell That to the Winter Sea tells the story of bride-to-be Jo and her first love, Scarlet, who reunite after years apart […]

January 16, 2023

UKTV Play user base up 27% YOY

Figures from commercial broadcaster UKTV indicate that following a year of increased investment and focus on its free streaming service UKTV Play, it has grown direct-to-consumer views by over a quarter and added a further one million registered users. The network also achieved record SOCI (share of commercial impacts) in 2022, up 2.1 per cent […]

January 12, 2023By Colin Mann

Butler, Sturges join Sky Studios drama team

Sky Studios, Sky’s original programming arm across Europe, has announced two new appointments to its drama team as the Studio targets a significant increase in the investment and scale of Sky Original drama. Making her first appointments since joining Sky Studios earlier this year, Meghan Lyvers, Sky Studios’ Director of Original Drama, UK&I, has announced […]

December 7, 2022

ITV expands Drama team with new hires

ITV’s Head of Drama Polly Hill has announced that Helen Ziegler will be joining the team as Senior Commissioning Editor. Ziegler starts with ITV Drama commissioning in January 2024, following her maternity leave. Currently Director of Television at award winning Mammoth Screen, Ziegler’s recent Executive Producer credits include Peter Bowker’s World on Fire for BBC […]

November 30, 2022

Drama unveils first UKTV Original scripted commission

UKTV free-to-air channel Drama has revealed its first UKTV Original commission Outrageous (6×60”), produced by Firebird Pictures, and written by Sarah Williams (Small Island, Flesh and Blood, The Long Song). Outrageous is the true story of six sisters who refused to play by the rules and whose often-scandalous lives made headlines around the world. Set […]

November 29, 2022By Colin Mann

Viaplay’s Furia returning for new season

Viaplay will premiere a second season of the Norwegian Viaplay Original ‘Furia’ in 2023. A dark and multi-layered drama that explores the disturbing underworld of right-wing terrorism, ‘Furia’ is created by International Emmy winner Gjermund Stenberg Eriksen (‘Mammon’) and stars Nordic and international talents Ine Marie Wilmann (‘Sonja: The White Swan’), Pål Sverre Hagen (‘Kon-Tiki’) […]

November 4, 2022

UKTV Play unveils rebrand

UKTV, the commercial multichannel broadcaster, has revealed a full rebrand for its free streaming service UKTV Play. After an intensive market research process consulting current users and new target audiences, UKTV Play will relaunch with a renewed digital-first brand direction and a fresh look and feel. “This rebrand marks the beginning of a real step […]

September 28, 2022By Colin Mann

UKTV: Record 2021

Multichannel programmer UKTV enjoyed a year of record growth in 2021, achieving its best-ever SOCI (share of commercial impacts) and network share for its seven channel portfolio – Dave, Drama, Gold, Yesterday, W, Eden and Alibi – and growing views to its on demand service UKTV Play. “UKTV experienced strong growth in 2020 and to […]

January 13, 2022By Colin Mann

UKTV: Record Q1 viewing

Multichannel programmer UKTV has released consolidated viewing figures from the first quarter of the year and announced its highest ever Q1 share of viewing (4.73 per cent) with UKTV Originals continuing to entice viewers. Popular channels Dave, Drama, Gold, Yesterday and Alibi have all experienced growth between January 1 and March 31 as well as […]

April 21, 2021