DCD Rights announces international crime drama deals

22 April 2021


Leading UK-based distributor DCD Rights announces a raft of drama sales to international platforms and broadcasters for hit crime series Frankie Drake Mysteries and My Life Is Murder.

Extensive new deals have been struck for the latest series of the critically-acclaimed Frankie Drake Mysteries to Ovation TV in the US, which follows a PBS Distribution streaming window, Epic Drama and VIP Serial – Central & Eastern Europe, Russia and CIS, Seven Network – Australia, YLE – Finland, Sky TV Network – New Zealand, and HRT – Croatia. New sales for earlier series include The Walt Disney Company – Balkans (Series 1), Prime Time Media – Russia and CIS (Series 1–3), Latvian Television (Series 2 & 3) and CH.U – South Korea (Series 1-4). Produced by Shaftesbury Productions in association with CBC and UKTV, the show has previously sold to LUK international for Spain and Portugal.

Currently in production in New Zealand, the brand-new series of ratings-hit crime drama My Life Is Murder (10 x 60’), a Greenstone TV production for TVNZ, Acorn TV and DCD Rights in association with Network 10, has pre-sold to UKTV for the broadcaster’s dedicated crime drama channel Alibi, The Walt Disney Company – Portugal and Portuguese Speaking Africa as well as The Balkans, Acorn TV for The Netherlands, Central America and South America and TV2 Denmark.  DCD Rights, who raised significant production finance for the new season, also confirms substantial new deals for series one to NBCUniversal International Networks for Universal TV in Africa, The Walt Disney Company – The Balkans, Acorn TV – UK, Australia and New Zealand and TV2 Denmark.

Nicky Davies Williams, CEO, comments “We’re delighted to report wide-reaching sales of two long running crime series, both with lively female protagonists, but set in very different eras.  They share intriguing and engaging storylines, which are proving to be winners with international audiences.”

DCD Rights recently launched new dramas – The Tender Trap, (1 x 90’) based on a shocking true story, which reveals how a sensible, middle-aged woman from New Zealand ends up serving time in a Buenos Aires jail for drug trafficking.  A Greenstone TV Production for TVNZ made with the support of NZ On Air, starring Rima Te Wiata (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Shortland Street).  As well as the third and final Jack Irish story – Jack Irish: Hell Bent (4 x 60’) an Easy Tiger Production for ABC Australia in association with Film Victoria starring Guy Pearce (A Christmas Carol, Iron Man 3, Mildred Pierce).