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BBC Two to screen A Place to Call Home

Reprieved drama secures UK and US interest, including on the BBC.

2013-04-14_2341BBC Two will screen A Place to Call Home, in the latest good news for the previously-axed period drama.

The BBC has rights to all four seasons, two of which are yet to be produced by Seven Productions and distributed by Endemol Worldwide Distribution.

Meanwhile RLJ Entertainment has secured the North American rights for the first two series on streaming service Acorn, plus DVD rights,  and syndication on public television stations.  Acorn TV has previously screened ANZAC Girls, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and Jack Irish.

Brad Lyons, Seven’s Director of Production said “A Place to Call Home is a world class period drama series created by a first class cast and creative team, and we are delighted that UK and US audiences will be given a chance to enjoy it. We are building a significant presence in the production of content not only for the Australian market but with an increasing focus on international markets.

“We are delighted to have secured this agreement for A Place to Call Home on the BBC.”

The series won a rare reprieve after Foxtel responded to a fan campaign to rescue the show from oblivion.

14 Responses

  1. Don’t really understand some of what appears to be negative criticism and whether they come from Aussies or Brits.
    What I do know is that A Place to Call Home and Dr Blake Mysteries are both excellent and hugely popular in the UK. The BBC often puts great dramas in an afternoon slot for reasons known only to itself. More and more viewers are realizing this and look out for them.
    Keep them coming Australia please. It’s fabulous that A Place to Call Home has been reprieved for more series. (Sarah and George to eventually marry perhaps? Dr Blake and Jean too?)
    Thank you

  2. Don’t think 7 will mind who sells and buys it as they will be making their money from the series anyway as they are still producing it, it is nice we can get more of our great programmes shown overseas irrespective of what time of the day it is and probably the daytime viewing in England would more than equate to our evening ratings as there are at least three times more people in the UK than here.

  3. So, David, in this article you mention three times about rights going to BBC or Acorn, but not once do you mention who sold them. Is it Seven Productions or Foxtel?
    And why would you sell the DVD rights so quickly? Let’s say the show becomes a massive hit in the US (unlikely, but), why would any production outlet attach DVD rights so promptly.
    Doesn’t ring true.

  4. @BarrieT (etc) – Good to see BBC gives the poms something of quality in the afternoons, compared to the garbage on offer here, including the 5-years-old “The Chase”.
    Home & Away and Neighbours are still played twice daily I believe, as news lead-ins.

  5. Foxtel saw an opportunity meet some of their compulsory 10% budget spend on local productions and drive subscription for their drama package. After poor numbers for Cloud Street and Devil’s Playground it doesn’t even need to be profitable for them, just lose less.

    Foxtel isn’t interest in pleasing Seven fans, who demanded the show back on Seven and have complained about it moving to Pay TV. Seven will profit from making the show for Foxtel and selling the international rights to Endemol.

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