8 September 2015
- Hotly anticipated medical drama Code Black acquired for Watch
- Watch beefs up schedule with Criminal Minds spin-off Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders
- Alibi secures FBI thriller Quantico
UKTV has extended its relationship with Disney UK & Ireland, securing a package of three ABC Studios series, for its Watch and Alibi channels.
The deal gives exclusive UK & Northern Ireland rights, and non-exclusive Republic of Ireland rights, to three upcoming US series, fresh out of pilot season: Code Black (13x60'), Quantico (13x60') and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (13x60').
Inspired by the award-winning documentary by Ryan McGarry, Code Black is a heart-pounding medical drama that takes place in the busiest ER in the US, LA County Hospital. The staggering influx of patients can outweigh the limited resources available to the extraordinary doctors and nurses whose job is to treat them all - creating a condition known as Code Black. The series stars Academy Award(R) winner Marcia Gay Harden (Mystic River) and Homeland star Raza Jaffrey and will start on Watch in October, hot on the heels of its US launch on CBS.
FBI thriller Quantico follows a group of young FBI recruits as they battle their way through training at the Quantico base in Virginia. Intercut between their hidden pasts and their present training, audiences will flash-forward to the near future, where one of the recruits turns out to be a sleeper terrorist responsible for the most devastating terrorist attack on US soil since 9/11. Led by Special Agent Liam (Josh Hopkins), the agent hopefuls include San Francisco beauty Alex, played by Bollywood movie star Priyanka Chopra. Alex is joined at training by Brooklyn hipster Simon (Tate Ellington), golden boy Caleb (Graham Rogers) southern belle Shelby (Johanna Braddy), hijab wearing Nimah (Yasmine Al Massari) and good-looking Ryan (Jake McLaughlin) who manages to seduce Alex before classes even begin.
Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders stars Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Gary Sinise in a drama about the specialised International Division of the FBI tasked with solving crimes and coming to the rescue of American citizens who find themselves in danger while abroad. Heading the department is Unit Chief Jack Garrett (Sinise), a seasoned 20-year veteran of the Bureau whose exceptional agents are dedicated to safely returning U.S. residents home by profiling and identifying criminals who are beyond State borders.
Steve North, General Manager for Watch said,
We are delighted to have two of the buzziest new US series coming to Watch and so soon after US TX. Code Black and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders will make fantastic additions to our growing slate of US content.
Adrian Wills, General Manager for Alibi said,
Quantico fits perfectly alongside Alibi's premium crime drama content and we are really excited to have it on the channel. Priyanka Chopra is an amazing talent and I can't wait to see where the show goes.
Alexandra Finlay, Head of Acquisitions and Co-Productions added,
We're thrilled that our relationship with Disney and ABC Studios is extending further with this significant package. These are three of the most hotly-anticipated shows from the LA Screenings, and it's a great coup for UKTV to have secured them.
Dayna Donaldson, general manager, Media Distribution, Disney UK & Ireland, said,
Code Black, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders and Quantico epitomize ABC Studios' irresistible high production values, smart, emotional storytelling, and feature appealing global talent. We can't wait to work with UKTV to launch them to British and Irish viewers.
Hit US drama Secrets and Lies, also from ABC Studios, starts on Watch from Wednesday 9th September at 9pm. Code Black will air on Watch in October with Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders following early 2016. Quantico will air on Alibi in the New Year.
Note to editors
For further information and all interview requests please contact:
Gem Pinkney - Publicist or email, pressoffice@uktv.co.uk.
About Watch
Sky 109/245, Virgin 124/191, BT and TalkTalk 407 On demand on Sky and Virgin
Watch is an entertainment channel that promises to surprise with out-of-the-ordinary programming. Premiering hit fantasy and science-fiction dramas such as The Strain, Grimm and Beauty and the Beast, it also showcases a selection of distinctive series like Doctor Who, David Attenborough's Natural Curiosities and Masterchef Australia. Watch is the exclusive home of Dynamo: Magician Impossible, an award winning original commission from UKTV.
watch.uktv.co.uk | @Watch_Channel
About Alibi HD
Sky 132, Virgin 130
Alibi is TV's home of crime drama, promising the best selection from the genre. It premieres hit US series like Castle, Body of Proof and Rizzoli & Isles and Perception.
The channel also features some of Britain's best-known TV detectives such as Sherlock, Inspector George Gently and Luther and welcomes BBC hit, Death in Paradise.
The schedule features favourites including Dalziel & Pascoe, Diagnosis Murder and Miss Marple. The crime scene teams of Silent Witness and New Tricks keep audiences guessing - and there is always murder most foul with the channel's popular co-production of Murdoch Mysteries.
alibi.uktv.co.uk | @Alibi_Channel
About UKTV
UKTV is the multi-award winning media company that reaches 42 million viewers a month.
UKTV's eleven imaginative brands - UKTV Play, Dave, Watch, Gold, Alibi, Yesterday, Drama, Really, Home, Eden and Good Food - include the most popular non-PSB channel in the UK and account for 9% of the British commercial TV market. The company's most recent financial results showed record-breaking year-end revenue of £283m and EBITDA of £74.1m. It invested £123m in programming and related launches last year, and is becoming an increasingly significant investor in UK creativity.
UKTV has a truly innovative model, curating brand-defining commissions, high-profile acquisitions and the very best of BBC, alongside programmes originally shown on ITV and Channel 4. The network embraces technology to deliver inspired channels to audiences through Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView and UKTV Play, and distributes its highly valued original programmes to 200 territories. Now celebrating its 22nd year at the forefront of digital television, UKTV - an independent commercial joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (SNI) - is proud to be the only British television broadcaster to be recognised by Best Companies.