MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide Australia has completed a deal with Network Ten that will see the extraordinary new crime series, Ripper Street, premiere to Australian audiences later this year.

This is the first pre-sale deal for the eight part series, created by Richard Warlow, which will transport viewers into the murky world of one of London?s most notorious districts and scene of one of the world?s most captivating crimes.

Set in and around Whitechapel in London?s East End in 1889, during the aftermath of the Jack The Ripper murders, Ripper Street stars Matthew Macfadyen, Jerome Flynn , Adam Rothenberg, Myanna Buring and David Dawson. The action centers on the notorious H Division which is charged with keeping order in the chaotic streets of East London.

Network Ten head of programming Beverley McGarvey said, "We were instantly intrigued by Ripper Street, it is clearly one of the most compelling crime stories of all time. The pedigree of both the production team and the cast is very exciting and we?re looking forward to it being a key feature in Ten?s upcoming programming slate".

BBC Worldwide Australia sales director Julie Dowding said, "The production pedigree coupled with the star power of Ripper Street ensures that Australian audiences will be treated to a crime drama with a difference ? one that will not only captivate lovers of the genre but a drama that will envelop the senses and take the audience there. Network Ten have an eye for quality crime drama and we are thrilled they have taken Ripper Street on".

MUMBAI: Under pressure to seek funding in a difficult global economic environment, producers are looking at the television trade event MipTV to be a meeting ground.

The event, which takes place next month in Cannes, France, has already seen a 25 per cent increase in registrations from production companies this year compared to 2011. More importantly, the 1,220 international television production companies registered to date include 326 first time attendees.

Reed Midem director of the television division Laurine Garaude said, "Producers increasingly need international financial partners and funding. They will find both again this year at the world?s largest TV market event, as production remains at the heart of MipTV 2012".

MipTV 2012 has a host of dedicated events and conferences created to benefit producers. The Drama CoProXchange and Producer?s Hub programmes are designed to facilitate co-production deals and support the producers? search of financial partners while in Cannes.

Kicking off the Drama CoProXchange programme on 1 April, MipTV?s first invitation-only Drama CoProXchange Summit will bring together 50 international commissioners, producers and deal-brokers involved in co-production at its highest levels for two hours of semi-structured networking behind closed doors, at the Majestic Hotel.

The list of personalities attending the Drama CoProXchange Summit include United Talent Agency co-founder and board director Peter Benedek, Entertainment One Television CEO John Morayniss, BSkyB head of drama Anne Mensah and France Televisions head of international drama and series co-productions Sophie Gigon.

Lookout Point MD Simon Vaughan said, "MipTV and Mipcom have been hugely important to the financing of Titanic. Julian Fellowes and I were here 18 months ago, with ITV Studios Global Entertainment, talking to potential partners and co-producers. And now it feels most fitting to celebrate Titanic?s launch with a Gala Screening here in Cannes."

Unfolding on 2 April, MipTV?s Drama CoProXchange programme includes a Creative Speaking session with British TV writer and producer Paul Abbott. Abbott will talk about his work to date, his creative process and his highly-anticipated new project, Hit and Miss, with Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee Chloe Sevigny, brought to Cannes by FremantleMedia.

Amongst several Case Studies sessions, Oscar-winning producer Iain Canning, co-founder of See Saw Films ?The King?s Speech? will unveil his upcoming drama, ?Top Of The Lake?, co-produced by BBC Two, UKTV and Sundance Channel and internationally distributed by BBC Worldwide. The highly-anticipated new series is directed by Jane Campion ?The Piano? and the cast includes Elisabeth Moss, Holly Hunter and Peter Mullan.

The Drama CoProXchange programme also features a Commissioning Strategies session where leading broadcasters will reveal their commissioning plans for the upcoming year.

The all-new Producers? Hub is designed to facilitate producers? meetings in a casual atmosphere and a dedicated space. A series of ?How to? workshops will take place during the four days of MipTV, covering negotiating deals, pitching, commissioning, drama co-production funding, kids programming, digital business and distribution, factual and documentary production and regional funding opportunities.

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide has stitched its first ever co-production deal with TVP in Poland for new drama ?Spies of Warsaw?, a two part historical spy drama adapted by Dick Clement and Ian de Frenais from Alan Furst?s novels.

The new drama from Fresh Pictures for BBC Four will soon be appearing on Poland?s national broadcaster, Polish Television (TVP), later this year. TVP previously bought a range of finished programming from BBC Worldwide including ?Married Single Other?, ?Waking the Dead? and ?Survivors?.

TVP?s producer, editor Piotr Derewenda said, ?We are very pleased to enter into this new co-production partnership with such a prestigious company as BBC Worldwide. Furst?s thrilling story creates a unique opportunity for us to chart Poland?s fascinating history from a more European perspective and provides the perfect backdrop for the thrilling tale of great love, friendship and betrayal.

BBC Worldwide executive producer for international drama Ben Donald said, ?Fresh Pictures? first drama, ?Spies in Warsaw?, is a captivating adaptation of the best-selling spy novels. The story takes place in Poland, France and Italy which lends itself perfectly to international co-productions such as this latest deal with TVP.

The adaptation offers casting opportunities for talent from around the world as the story spans various countries across Europe. "I am also delighted that we are able to bring this production to Poland where there is not only an excellent infrastructure in place and production expertise but also a strong tradition of film-making,? averred Donald.

Spanning the decade from 1933 to 1943, Furst?s stories are portraits of subjugated peoples who try to resist the suffocating inevitability of Hitler?s regime. The characters roam the foggy nights and steal across the rainy, cobbled streets of Prague, Berlin, Warsaw, Rome, and Paris.

Furst?s protagonists join the ranks of the Resistance in one way or another. They include faded nobility, b-movie filmmakers, newspapermen, ship?s captains and compromised businessmen as well as waiters, shopkeepers, jaded intellectuals, tarnished grand dames, and boozy Britishs secret agents. Together they march in the underground army that seeks to fight back against the Nazi occupiers.

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide Channels has acquired Titanic ? the lavish new costume drama from the pen of Oscar-winner and Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes ? to air exclusively on BBC Entertainment in South Africa, the same day as the UK version concludes.

Created to mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the HMS Titanic, the 4 x 60? drama will transmit as double-bills on BBC Entertainment on 15 and 22 April.

The drama features a host of British acting talent including Linus Roache, Geraldine Somerville, Celia Imrie, Toby Jones, Perdita Weeks and James Wilby.

Filmed in Hungary, the mini-series will re-tell the story of the doomed voyage, weaving action, mystery and romantic plots and featuring fictional and historical characters, before coming together in an explosive and unforgettable finale.

Following the different characters travelling on the ill-fated ship - from steerage passengers to upper class guests - each point of view will culminate in a cliff hanger as the ship begins to founder, building to an explosive conclusion which draws together each of the stories. Viewers will be taken on a heart wrenching journey through the Titanic?s last hours, as the drama reveals which of the characters they have come to know so well will survive?and who does not.

BBC Worldwide Channels VP programming for Europe, Middle East and Africa Jon Farrar said, ?We?re delighted to be showing this prestigious drama exclusively on BBC Entertainment so soon after the hugely successful debut of Downton Abbey. As the first channel to bring the hotly-anticipated Downton Abbey to South Africa, it?s a thrill to be the only channel to show Julian Fellowes? latest project
too.?

MUMBAI: Colors has acquired the rights of dancing reality show Jhalak Dikhla Jaa, the first four editions of which got telecast on rival Hindi general entertainment channel Sony.

Colors will show the fifth season of the show.

Produced by BBC Worldwide Productions India, this season of Jhalak Dikhla Jaa will continue to bring together choreographers and celebrities from different walks of life.

The exchange of knowledge about different dance forms that help to evolve the contestants is the USP of the show.

Colors CEO Raj Nayak said ?Jhalak Dikhla Jaa ? Dancing with the Stars is one of the most successful entertainment formats on Indian television and we are happy to collaborate with BBC Worldwide Productions. We have always wanted to showcase a dance show and what better than to acquire the biggest dance format show in the world.?

In the recent past, Colors had also acquired the rights for Screen Awards that since years were happening on Star Plus.
Jhalak Dikhla Ja is an Indianised presentation of International dancing format- Dancing With The Stars. The other International formats aired by Colors? are Bigg Boss, India?s Got Talent, Ring Ka King, Khatron Ke Khiladi.