Kate Bulkley, Media Analyst.

Scripps hands Transparent global rights

By Kate Bulkley

Broadcast News

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For Broadcast January 27 2014

Transparent Television has secured a commission from the Travel Channel which is almost full funded by Scripps Network International as part of its commitment to airing stand-out shows.

The Argonon-owned indie has also secured distribution rights for all territories outside of Scripps International’s EMEA footprint for food travelogue Jonathan Phang’s Gourmet Trains. The show launches in the UK later this month.

Scripps UK and EMEA senior vice president of content and marketing Nick Thorogood said the broadcaster was open to allowing producers to retain rights where appropriate.

“We are able to work with [Argonon’s] distribution arm so even if we have the show on our channel in a country there may be a discussion about secondary rights for other platforms or channels in that country,” he said.

Thorogood told Broadcast at the launch of the show today that he has “an interesting commissioning slate” for 2014 and is considering expanding Gourmet Trains beyond its initial 6 x60-minute run.

“We are at the planning stages but the value of a show like Gourmet Trains is that it lifts our channels to the next level, beyond our library.”

He added that the format of the show is ideal for Scripps international footprint because the train on which it is set crosses several countries including Turkey, a growth region for the business.

The Orient Express is also supplying its trains for the show as part of a barter deal to gain exposure for the company’s services.

At the event, Scripps International also announced the launch of Fine Living, a factual entertainment channel targeting females, in Italy later this quarter.

Fine Living, which is being launched in partnership with Italian publishing company Feltrinelli, is Scripps’ first Italian channel.

Scripps UK and EMEA managing director Jon Sichel said that the broadcaster is looking to expand into other European countries and is looking closely at Spain, Germany and further gains in Russia.

Scripps considered buying Liberty’s Chellomedia channels last year but these were eventually sold to AMC Networks for £750m.

“We are here to invest and grow this business strategically and organically and we see a lot of opportunities in Europe,” said Sichel.

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