DCD Rights takes Matchlight content to International Broadcasters

14 January 2015


Independent distributor DCD Rights has shipped Matchlight’s latest factual specials to international broadcasters ahead of NATPE, as it prepares to showcase three brand new titles from the Glasgow based indie in Miami.

Following its premiere last month on BBC1 in the UK, Darcey Bussell’s Looking For Audrey has been secured by SIC in Portugal and Foxtel in Australia. The one-hour HD special sees the former Royal Ballet star and Strictly Come Dancing judge taking a personal look at the remarkable life of the iconic screen goddess. In addition, Russell Brand: End The Drugs War, a one-hour HD special for BBC1 / BBC3 in which the ex-addict puts forward a strong case to reform heroin addiction treatment, has been picked up by NRK Norway. 

DCD Rights will debut three brand new HD factual titles from Matchlight at NATPE 2015 later this month. In The Longest War: Women & Power, a ground-breaking three-part series for BBC4, Professor Amanda Vickery tells the story of the long war to give women an equal share of power – bringing to life the heroic women (and a few men) brave enough to demand equality for all. Transplant Tales, a 2 x 60’ series for BBC1, follows the lives of people on the organ transplant waiting list, with unique access to six transplant units, and investigates how medics are being driven to find new medical innovations to contend with the chronic shortage of organ donors. Finally, in one-hour special Joan Of Arc: God’s Warrior, writer and historian Dr Helen Castor explores the life – and death – of the iconic Joan of Arc, unpicking the real story of the teenage peasant girl who achieved the seemingly impossible.

Rick Barker, Head of Sales at DCD Rights comments, “The demand for high quality primetime factual content remains very high in the international marketplace and Matchlight consistently delivers in this genre. Their recent specials, led by globally renowned personalities who are passionate about their subject matter, are generating a great deal of interest amongst our clients and we’re expecting to conclude more deals for these shows at NATPE alongside launching three fantastic new titles.”