8 | Broadcast | 23 August 2019 broadcastnow.co.ukBY JOHN ELMESAmazon is backing a flexible
approach to UK talent rather
than seeking exclusivity agree
ments, according to its European
originals chief.
Georgia Brown, who is over
seeing the SVoD giant’s content
plans across the continent, told
Broadcast the market in the
UK differs from the US in that
European talent ultimately “go
where they want”, as opposed to
the prevalence of ‘golden hand
cuffs’ deals across the Atlantic.
In the US, Amazon has secured
talent such as The Walking Dead
creator Robert Kirkman with
exclusive deals but has not fol
lowed suit in the UK. “The US has
always very much been beholden
to those exclusive, firstlook deals,”
said Brown. “To date, we haven’t
looked at that.”
Brown added that talent would
take their projects to the studios or
broadcasters where they receive
“the best experience” in terms of
time, finance and partnership.
Brown’s comments come after
a period of exclusive dealmaking
by the SVoD majors in the US,
with creatives such as ShondaRhimes, Ryan Murphy and Game
Of Thrones creators David Benioff
and DB Weiss signing up to
multiyear deals with Netflix.More recently, there has been talk
about whether handcuff deals will
become prevalent in the UK, and
Broadcast revealed that Netflix is
in talks with Charlie Brooker over
an exclusive agreement.
Meanwhile, Amazon has an
arrangement with Good Omens
writer Neil Gaiman to develop TV
programmes, though this didn’t
stop him partnering with Netflix
for an adaptation of his graphic
novel series The Sandman.C^5 ramps up regional accent in drama push
Brown declined to comment on
that situation but said successful
producers have the power to shop
around their projects.
“Right now, we’re in a position
where we can just work with talent
and if they want to come back to
us, that’s brilliant, but it’s their
decision,” she said.
Meanwhile, Brown said there
is no extra burden on Amazon’s
European slate despite the immi
nent launch of the likes of BritBox
and Disney+ and US studios
starting to rethink licensing
deals with global SVoDs.
“I’m not feeling the pressure –
we all know rights come and go,”
said Brown. “It’s ‘such is life’ when
it comes to that part of the busi
ness. The fact that we’re investing
and are continuing to invest
incredibly heavily into original
content shows we’re pleased with
our originals.”
Brown said her primary goal
is to ensure commissions work
in their local territories, and
Amazon is not hunting for titles
that have been conceived as
international formats. She is
placing faith in her commissioning
team to find them, rather than
relying on data, she added.BY ALICE REDMANChannel 5 has taken the next
step in its push into mainstream
drama, including a featurelength
single that restates its nations and
regions commitment.
The Small Hand (w/t) is a 120
minute thriller about an antiques
dealer who finds himself haunted
by the ghost of a young boy.
Based on the novel of the same
name by Susan Hill, who also
wrote The Woman In Black, the
series will be produced by “book
toscreen specialist” Awesome
Media and Alan Clements’
Glasgowbased Two Rivers Media.The Small Hand will be filmed in
Scotland with financial support
from Screen Scotland. It will join
the previously announced reboot
of All Creatures Great and Small,
filmed in Yorkshire, and Irelandset The Deceived as scripted
projects ordered in 2019 with a
strong regional focus. C5 has
also acquired the second series of
Blood, a Virgin Media Television
origination from Ireland.
Digital channel controller and
commissioning executive Sebastian
Cardwell, who is leading the
drama push, has also ordered the
3 x 60minutes Penance from
All3Media’s West Road Pictures.
The psychological thriller has
been adapted by Kate O’Riordan
from her novel of the same name.
West Road also produces Blood.
Cardwell said the new pro
grammes are a “testament to C5’screative ambition in the genre”.
Data from Broadcast’s Programme
Index shows the broadcaster has
now ordered four dramas in both
2018 and 2019.
C5’s scripted push is being
funded by cash freed up by
the cancellation of Big Brother.
Director of programmes Ben Frow
previously indicated he wanted
to pay tariffs of around £250,
per hour for scripted originals.
➤ Broadcast’s Programme Index
collates data about original
commissions from all major UK
broadcasters and is available free
to all Broadcast subscribers at
broadcastintel.com/programmesAmazon puts away handcuffs
The US has always very
much been beholden
to those exclusive,
first-look deals. We
haven’t looked at that
GEORGIA BROWN
AMAZONSVoD takes flexible approach to UK talent rather than seek USstyle exclusive agreements
NEWS & ANALYSIS
Good Omens: Neil Gaiman has
an overall arrangement with
Amazon to develop TV showsBlood: C5 will air the second series