Picture Box Distribution

Just ahead of the Realscreen Summit in February, Picture Box Distribution acquired two new series to add to their growing factual catalogue. From Worldwide Bag Media comes the new makeover series BEAUTY CALL (26 X 30’), produced for the W Network in Canada. Hosts Anna Wallner and Kristina Matisic help viewers get to the roots and results of great style. This new series joins Wallner and Matisic’s other popular series ANNA AND KRISTINA’S GROCERY BAG, also distributed by Picture Box. Also new to Picture Box is the new series about television shows called SWITCH (13 X 30’). Produced by Buck Productions for TvTropolis in Canada, this series opens the floor to a team of television aficionados and engages them in a lively discussion about a particular topic of classic television.

“We are pleased to be representing these new shows from accomplished Canadian producers.” says Kate Sanagan, Director of Sales, Americas and France. “Anna and Kristina are consummate hosts that have a lot of international appeal and SWITCH is a fun look at our favourite series from the past with great celebrity guests from those series.”

Weight loss series X-WEIGHTED continues to sell well with new sales of the fourth season X-WEIGHTED FAMILIES to Sky in the UK, TV4 in Sweden, TV Viisi in Finland and Serdy in French Canada. The series has also sold to Turner in Latin America, TVNZ in New Zealand, SBS in Belgium, SBS in the Netherlands and Discovery Health in the U.S. “This new season really ups the ante with families losing weight together. There are so many more interesting dynamics.” Says Marilyn Kynaston, Director of Sales for Europe. The series is produced by Anaid Productions for Slice Network TM in Canada.

American broadcaster CNBC has scooped up three seasons of the financial makeover series 'TIL DEBT DO US PART'(104 X 30'). Produced by Frantic Films in association with Canwest Broadcasting's SliceTM, 'Til Debt Do Us Part saves families from the doldrums of debt. The series premiered on CNBC on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 10PM and 1AM ET. “We are pleased to have placed this important show with an American broadcaster like CNBC” said Kate Sanagan, Director of Sales – Americas and France. “Gail’s reign as the financial supernanny will surely resonate with millions of Americans who can now watch her on CNBC. It’s an excellent fit for the show.”

Picture Box has hired digital media consultants Jumpwire Media to indentify new revenue streams for Picture Box programs and create a customised digital sales strategy. “While the newer platforms are still not producing revenue at the rate of traditional television, the world of distribution is changing rapidly,” says Kate Sanagan “and we want to make sure we are a part of the new world order. Jumpwire is helping us realise that goal.”

As MIPCOM quickly approaches, Canada’s Picture Box Distribution has been busy closing deals for many of its factual programs. Their lifestyle programs ANNA AND KRISTINA’S GROCERY BAG, KEEPING IT REAL and X-WEIGHTED have all recently found new homes overseas thanks to Picture Box.

ANNA AND KRISTINA’S GROCERY BAG has turned out to be a big hit internationally with sales to MTV Oy in Finland, Canal Plus’ Kuchnia TV in Poland and Ananey Channels in Israel recently inked. The series is also garnering a lot of interest as a format. In addition, recent acquisition KEEPING IT REAL from Patron Entertainment has sold to True Vision in Thailand and MTV Oy in Finland.
X-WEIGHTED FAMILIES is the newest season for the popular Anaid Productions series, and Picture Box has presold it to the UK broadcaster Sky. This latest season focuses on families looking to lose weight as a team. Others buyers to pick up earlier seasons of the series recently are TV4 in Sweden and TV5 in Finland.

“Factual entertainment made in Canada is some of the best in the world” says Kate Sanagan, Director of Sales – Americas and France. “We are thrilled that these high quality programs continue to do extremely well with our international buyers.”

Picture Box is an international television sales agency and distribution company with offices in Vancouver and Toronto, Canada. They will be at MIPCOM in October in the Canadian Pavilion at booth # 02.10.