EXCLUSIVE: TF1 Group’s Histoire TV network has boarded European science co-production Scanning History.
Under terms of the agreement with New York- and Paris-based producer-distributor Big Media, the channel lands exclusive TV rights in France and French-speaking Africa. It will also join Germany’s ZDF, AMC Networks in Spain and Prime TV in Czechia on shaping the six-part program’s editorial direction. Europe’s broadcasters have long bandied together on science and history series that can be expensive but lend themselves to collaboration.
Furthermore, Histoire’s multi-layered deal with Big Media will see the French-language network license finished series Spycraft and Secret Vatican Files: The Pope & the Devil.
Scanning History is a six-part series that explores how technological revolution has shaped modern archaeology. Where archaeologists once used spades, oral text and maps to guide them, modern techniques involve detailed satellite photography, digital imaging, 3D technology, isotope analysis, tomography, and mass spectrometry. The series will use on-the-ground case studies and access to archaeologists at the forefront of the change.
“As always, we strive to bring Histoire TV viewers the highest-quality entertainment and information series,” said Christophe Sommet, CEO at Histoire TV. “By securing rights to Scanning History from Big Media early on in the production, we not only have editorial input into a fascinating series of exceptional quality, but also exclusivity in our market that affords us a competitive advantage in a crowded TV landscape.”
“We are delighted to welcome Histoire TV into our fold of international partners and licensees,” said Danny Wilk, President, BIG Media. “Thanks to the support we have been receiving, BIG Media is able to produce content that resonates with viewers around the world. Scanning History is the type of series that defies language and cultural barriers and is universally appealing. We’re looking forward to seeing how well it is received in France, Germany, Spain and across the globe.”
Generalist history network Histoire TV is distributed in more than 30 French-speaking countries, and has more than 14 million subscribers.