Fox and Foxtel ink inaugural co-development deal

Fox and Murdoch family sibling Foxtel have unveiled a scripted pact to develop drama series for the US and Australian markets. 

The deal was announced by Fox chief Rob Wade and Foxtel’s executive director, entertainment content and commissioner Alison Hurbert-Burns. It will see Fox Entertainment identify, co-create and co-commission series as well as the development of original dramas for pay-TV network Foxtel and its streamer Binge and third-party US and international platforms. 

The projects developed will be produced in Australia by Fox Entertainment Studios and will use above- and below-the-line crews from the US and Australia. The US giant’s distribution arm Fox Entertainment Global will oversee international sales of series created under the partnership. 

Though Foxtel has licensed Fox shows such as Animal Control, this marks the first pact of its kind between the Fox Corp and News Corp subsidiaries and is the latest in a series of internationally focused scripted moves by Wade’s company in recent months. In May, it was revealed News UK was looking to hire a scripted development exec to exploit The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times newspapers’ IP to create dramas in conjunction with Fox Entertainment. 

Speaking to our sister site Broadcast last month, Wade talked up the “unrealised TV potential” of the pact and inter-company development partnerships, appropriately citing The Teacher’s Pet podcast run by Foxtel sibling The Australian as the foundations for an internationally compelling drama. 

Commenting on the Foxtel pact, Wade said: “Expanding Fox Entertainment’s international footprint through innovative business models is a principal priority for us, particularly as we unfurl our recently formalized structure built on three key business operations – Fox network, Fox Entertainment Studios and Fox Entertainment Global.  

“Each of these divisions are designed to power our growth strategy by uniting with the best and the brightest companies and creatives around the world, and Foxtel Group is the perfect partner to help us achieve this goal.” 

Hurbert-Burns added: “Investing in strategic content partnerships, like this one with FOX Entertainment, is reflective of our desire to deliver global thinking to local productions, whilst also sharing Australian stories around the world.  

“We’re looking to find new ways to collaborate and bring more production to our shores, to deliver Australian productions that are popular for Foxtel and Binge audiences but also deliver for international partners.” 

This story originally appeared on our sister site Broadcast

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