MADRID — AB Intl. Distribution has struck an exclusive international distribution deal with top French TV drama producer Son et Lumiere, consolidating its position at the forefront of Gallic TV sales.
Taking in select French TV rights, pact includes all seasons of Intl. Emmy-nommed fiction series “Spiral,” whose first 2005 season initiated Gallic paybox Canal Plus’ plunge into original series.
Recently acquired for the U.S. by Netflix, and sold for season three by Newen Distribution, “Spiral,” a hard-boiled crime series, last week won TV France Intl.’s 2012 Export Award for best-sold fiction drama.
Deal includes all of Son et Lumiere’s catalog, including law firm drama “Attorneys at Law,” 18th-century Pakistan-set drama “Rani,” “On the Edge” and hitman thriller “The Hunter.”
Following the Son et Lumiere agreement, AB Intl. Distribution now handles three top Canal Plus fiction series — “Spiral,” femme mob boss drama-thriller “Mafiosa,” whose fifth season is being written, and comedy “Kaboul Kitchen” — plus “Desperate Parents,” a comedic take on parenthood aired on pubcaster channel France 2, where it averages nearly five million viewers.
An arm of France’s AB Group, AB Intl. Distribution’s catalog runs to over 20,000 hours of programming. No value was given for the Son et Lumiere deal.
Elsa Keslassy contributed to this report.
