News

C21, C21 Reporter, 8th June 2021 UK commercial broadcaster ITV has ordered a documentary series about Princess Diana, marking what would have been her 60th birthday. Produced by London-based indie Spun Gold TV, Diana’s Decades (3×60’) will explore how the … Continued

Realscreen, Jillian Morgan, 8 June 2021 ITV has commissioned two projects from 72 Films and Spun Gold, respectively, about the life of Princess Diana in commemoration of what would have been her 60th birthday. Told in the present tense, the … Continued

Televisual, Jon Creamer, 8 June 2021 ITV has commissioned 72 Films to make a new feature-length film marking what would have been Princess Diana’s 60th birthday, aiming to tell the “definitive story of the most famous woman in the world.” … Continued

ITV to mark Diana 60th Broadcast, Max Goldbart, 8 June 2021 72 Films and Spun Gold secure orders ITV is to mark what would have been Princess Diana’s 60th birthday with shows from 72 Films and Spun Gold, Broadcast can … Continued

TBI Vision, Richard Middleton – 28 May 2021 Silverlining unveils World’s Most Beautiful Landscapes UK-based production finance broker and distribution agent Silverlining Rights is seeking buyers for eight-part travel series World’s Most Beautiful Landscapes, which is set to debut on … Continued

C21 Media, Oli Hammett – 15 April 2021 Commercially funded UK pubcaster Channel 4 has acquired 10-part documentary series World’s Greatest Wrecks for its More4 channel. The series is a coproduction between Bristol-based prodco Mallinson Sadler Productions (MSP) and distributor … Continued

C21 Media, Nico Franks – 8 March 2021 UK distributor and production funding broker Silverlining Rights has brought in Esther Agraso, former head of sales at Spain’s Imagina International Sales. Agraso has joined Silverlining Rights as a sales associate and … Continued

TBI Vision, Mark Layton – 8 March 2021 UK distributor and production funding broker Silverlining Rights has appointed ex Imagina exec Esther Agraso as a sales associate, with a focus on pre-sales to raise gap funding. Agraso is the former … Continued

Silverlining Press Release, 8 March 2021 Esther Agraso will expand the all-female company’s sales and funding reach Former Head of Sales at Imagina International Sales (Grupo Mediapro), Esther Agraso, has joined UK distributor and production funding broker, Silverlining Rights Limited, … Continued

Silverlining Press Release 4th March 2021 BBC Obs Doc series already acquired globally in five territories. A fresh new look at the world of surrogacy, set to release as a box set on BBC Three on 14 March, and BBC … Continued

C21Media Nico Franks 5th March 2021 Broadcasters from around Europe plus one in Australia have pre-bought a forthcoming BBC documentary about surrogacy from the UK’s Silverlining. ProSieben in Germany, Medialaan in Belgium, TV2 in Denmark and TV2 in Norway, along … Continued

TV Real Daily (Worldscreen), Kristin Brzoznowski 5 November 2020 NPO Max in the Netherlands has optioned the format for a local version of The Great Model Railway Challenge. The format sees teams of gifted railway modelers compete against each other … Continued

TBI Vision, Richard Middleton 5 November 2020 NPO Max in the Netherlands has optioned rights for a local remake of The Great Model Railway Challenge, following a deal with distributor Silverlining Rights. The format was sold to MGM-backed prodco Concept … Continued

C21 Media, Clive Whittingham 5 November 2020 Netherlands broadcaster NPO Max has optioned a British format in which model railway enthusiasts compete to produce the most elaborate builds. The Great Model Railway Challenge was originally created by Knickerbockerglory for ViacomCBS-owned … Continued

Hilversum, 22 October 2020 In the autumn of 2021, Omroep MAX will be looking for the best model train builder in the Netherlands in the new NPO 1 program The Big Small Trains Competition. In the program, six model train … Continued

Peter: The Human Cyborg selected as a hot pick for the showcase John Elmes 15 October 2020 In a year of disruption and financial uncertainty, boutique distribution and co-production outfit Silverlining Rights has fared remarkably well. The Bristol-based company, set … Continued

Press Release 9th October 2020 Forward-thinking distributor concluded over 70 meetings in a fortnight Independent Bristol distribution and co-pro expert, Silverlining, has popped the cork on a successful round of sales meetings, concluded well ahead of the expected October MIPCOM … Continued

Realscreen, Jillian Morgan 22 September 2020 Silverlining secures rights to NPL Media series Bristol-based specialist factual distributor Silverlining TV has secured the rights to the six-part Sky Original series Rankin’s 2020 from NPL Media. The 6 x 30-minute series, to … Continued

Silverlining Press Release 21 September 2020 NPL Media looks to Bristol powerhouse to take Rankin’s 2020 to the world Specialist factual distributor Silverlining has secured the rights to a new six-part series from NPL Media, to air on Sky Arts … Continued

Golden age of docs 07-09-2020 Clive Whittingham Clive Whittingham examines what’s trending in documentaries, whether Covid-themed projects are in or out and what the big concerns are for distributors heading into 2021. Once the doyen of independent cinemas, film festivals … Continued

Silverlining Press Release, 17 July 2020 Bristol distributor celebrates a bumper second quarter of sales Specialist factual and documentary distributor, Silverlining Rights Limited has made the most of three months in lockdown by securing a host of sales to channels … Continued

TBI Vision, Mark Layton 17 July 2020 UK-based factual distributor Silverlining Rights has reported “bumper” Q2 sales with particular uptake for its crime programming in Asia, the Nordics and New Zealand. “We really didn’t know what to expect when the … Continued

Silverlining Press Release 2 July 2020 Bristol funding expert turned ‘Farm’ dreams into a reality for Blakeway. Specialist production finance broker, Silverlining, will see the fruits of its funding labour take to screens in July as Wild Tales from the … Continued

TBI Vision, Richard Middleton 29 May 2020 The UK’s Sky Nature, Smithsonian Channel in the US and Arte in France are preparing to air a four-part docuseries about life on a farm. Wild Tales From The Farm documents the struggles of … Continued

Silverlining Press Release 28 May 2020 Bristol funding expert turned ‘Farm’ dreams into a reality for Blakeway Specialist production finance broker, Silverlining, will see the fruits of its funding labour take to screens in July as Wild Tales from the … Continued

TBI Vision, Bethan Corney 19 March 2020 Over the coming months, TBI will be running a series of articles exploring how the international content industry is dealing with the challenges of Covid-19. We will explore how businesses are adapting and … Continued

Broadcast, John Elmes, 5th March 2020 Distributors are pulling together “virtual markets” for buyers via videoconferencing in the wake of Mip TV’s cancellation. In light of last night’s confirmation that concerns over coronavirus had led organisers to scrap the annual … Continued

TBI Vision, Richard Middleton 28th February 2020   Int’l networks add orgasm doc from Silverlining TV2 in Denmark, Sweden’s SVT, DPG Media in Belgium and NRK Norway have picked up one-off documentary How To Have A Better Orgasm. The show, … Continued

C21Media, Nico Franks Thursday 27th February 2020   Broadcasters from around Europe, plus one in Australia, have acquired a documentary about the female orgasm from the UK’s Silverlining. TV2 in Denmark, SVT in Sweden, DPG Media in Belgium and NRK … Continued

Silverlining Press Release Thursday 27th February 2020   Quintet of channels pick up ‘How to Have a Better Orgasm’   Boutique factual distributor, Silverlining, has signed multiple deals with channels globally to acquire an intimate new documentary ahead of its … Continued

14 January 2020 Channel 4 has commissioned Sugar Films to follow the extraordinary journey of Peter Scott-Morgan and his radical cybernetic transformation. With unprecedented access to Peter and an international group of doctors, scientists, engineers and designers, this 1×60 specialist … Continued

19th December 2019 We have been so moved by the story behind local Bristol charity Little Hero, it has inspired us to donate to a different cause each year. Little Hero are currently raising £100,000 to fight childhood brain tumours in memory … Continued

Silverlining Press Release, 8th November 2019   Secrets of the Mega Resort draws strong buyer interest ahead of UK premiere The latest in a series of successful behind-the-scenes documentaries on boutique distributor Silverlining’s programme slate has had buyers lining up … Continued

Silverlining Press Release, 29th November 2019   International buyers clued up ahead of Channel 5 premiere Specialist factual distributor, Silverlining, is fielding intense interest from acquisitions executives globally for a new documentary on mystery novel doyen, Agatha Christie. Inside the … Continued

Silverlining Press Release, 13 September 2019   Great Model Railway Challenge Season 2 premieres on Channel 5 tonight Bristol-based distributor, Silverlining, will be full steam ahead with the second season of Great Model Railway Challenge following its first broadcast on … Continued

Silverlining Press Release, 23 August 2019   Access documentary premieres on Channel 4 tomorrow   After more than a year in the making, Silverlining Rights Limited is thrilled to be able to offer Prince Albert: A Victorian Hero Revealed to … Continued

Silverlining Press Release, 5 August 2019   ‘The Secret World of Your Rubbish’ premieres on Channel 5 tonight   Audiences in the UK will get a fascinating insight into the lifecycle of their rubbish in a new documentary series from … Continued

Jesse Whittock, Broadcast, 13 June 2019, Silverlining secures deals for Knickerbockerglory ob-doc series Channel 5 ob-doc Student Sex Workers has been picked up by a trio of European territories and Australia. Knickerbockerglory’s 2 x 60-minute series, which opened last night to … Continued

Richard Middleton, C21, 13 June 2019, Knickerbockerglory’s Student Sex Workers debuted on Channel 5 Broadcasters in the Nordics, Benelux and Australia have struck pre-sales deals for a two-part show that explores the prevalence of sex work among students. Student Sex … Continued

Benji Wilson, 21 February 2019, The Telegraph At one point in The Abused, an excellent documentary about domestic violence on Channel 5 last night, a man who had committed all manner of horrendous crimes against his own wife was arrested and … Continued

Natasha Sporn, Thursday 28th March, Evening Standard All you need to know as cameras follow Kent Police. Channel 5 is about to feed your obsession with crime documentaries with new series, Manhunt: Catch Me If You Can. The three-part live-action documentary follows a … Continued

C21Media, Clive Whittingham, April 12th 2019 UK pubcaster the BBC has greenlit a one-off documentary examining the drone sightings that caused chaos at London’s Gatwick Airport earlier this year. London- and Yorkshire-based indie Attaboy TV is working on The Gatwick … Continued

TBI Vision, by Kaltrina Bylykbashi, April 11th 2019 BBC One is set to air Attaboy TV’s The Gatwick Drone Attack on its Panorama strand next week (15 April).  The episode is based on the back of the Gatwick drone attack in December 2018, where over 1,000 … Continued

Realscreen, by Selina Chignall April 12, 2019 UK indie Attaboy TV has secured its first commission with British pubcaster BBC for a documentary about last year’s Gatwick drone attack for the network’s current affairs strand ‘Panorama.’ The Gatwick Drone Attack (1 x 30 … Continued

Broadcast, Monday 8th April 2019 Having insider knowledge of the railway industry helped keep our series on track, says Tim Pritchard Gaining behind the scenes, documentary filming access to one-stop institutions like Claridges, Libertys or a hospital is difficult but … Continued

Richard Middelton, C21 Media Monday 8th April 2019 MIPTV: Broadcasters in Australia and New Zealand have picked up a show about train stations around the world from UK-based financier and distributor Silverlining. World’s Busiest Train Stations is produced by Tim … Continued

The Mirror, Tim Pritchard 4th April 2019 Swiss trains are spotlessly clean and 90% of them run on time, while Australian train drivers have to watch out for kangaroos on track and health and safety footwear for Indian track workers … Continued

Broadcast, 27th February 2019 For a truly different take on this crowded genre, we focused on critical cases and drew up a long list of clichés to be avoided, says Michael Tuft TV isn’t short of top-quality hospital docs, so if you’re … Continued

22nd November, 2018 Channel 4 Factual has commissioned from Sundog Pictures (1×60 mins) Training Teachers to Kill.  This timely and shocking documentary will witness the heated debate playing out in real time where school boards in America are seriously considering … Continued

Broadcast Now, Frederick Blichert, November 22 2018. UK pubcaster Channel 4 has unveiled an expansive new slate of non-fiction commissions, including series on social welfare and health services, as well as arts programming and a doc on the controversial movement … Continued

C21 Media 4th October 2018 John Elmes A+E Networks is to launch a special programming strand focused on cults and zealous belief systems globally across its Crime+Investigation (C+I) network. Twisted Faith will launch in November as a seven-day programming block … Continued

C-21 Media, Nico Franks. 8th October 2018 UK indie prodco and sales outfit Silverlining TV has signed a first-look distribution deal with a fledgling company set up by a former BBC Earth executive. Bristol-based Mustang Films has been set up … Continued

‘Using innovative techniques blending documentary and drama to protect the identity of those involved, this powerful film reports on the impact this has on the families of the men involved’ The Sunday Mirror The unusual format and queasy subject matter … Continued

Broadcast Now, Manori Ravindran 9th May 2018 Original article Emporium Productions and Spun Gold have struck commissions around this month’s royal wedding for US cable channels Lifetime and Nat Geo. WW2 Treasure Hunters indie Emporium is producing one-off doc Harry … Continued

C21 Media, Nico Franks 3rd April 2018 Original article Broadcasters in Australia, France and the UK have pre-bought a documentary about the missing Malaysian Airlines passenger jet from Silverlining TV. Nine Network in Australia, RMC Découverte in France and Channel … Continued

Realscreen, Selina Chignall 26th July 2017 Original article Silverlining Rights picks up rights to GPs: Behind Closed Doors UK-based distributor Silverlining Rights has picked up the rights to the fifth season of the docusoap, GPs: Behind Closed Doors. The new … Continued

C21 Media, Richard Middleton 8th June 2017 UK-based distributor Silverlining Rights has picked up a one-off special about the truth behind long-haul flights. The Secret Life of the Long-Haul Flight follows Australian operator Qantas’s A380 plane as it flies from … Continued

Realscreen, Selina Chignall 2nd June 2017 Original article Silverlining Rights picks up The Secret Life of the Long-Haul Flight UK-based distributor Silverlining Rights has picked up the new one-off special The Secret Life of the Long-Haul Flight from indie prodco … Continued

C21 Media, Richard Middleton 16th May 2017 UK-based Silverlining Rights has picked up a fast-turnaround doc that explores the influence of US president Donald Trump’s eldest daughter.  Ivanka Trump: America’s Real First Lady? (1 x 60′) has been produced by … Continued

Broadcast Now, Rob McCabe 6th February 2017 I was sold on The Accused within five minutes of meeting Malcolm Brinkworth, executive producer at Brinkworth Films. His idea was ambitious and compelling: a documentary that, for the first time, took the … Continued

C21 Media, Richard Middleton 20th January 2016 UK-based distributor Silverlining Rights has added a one-off doc about survivors of the Auschwitz concentration camp to its sales slate. The Girl Who Forgave The Nazis (1×60′) was produced by Testimony Films for … Continued

C21 Media, Richard Middleton 13th January 2016 UK-based distributor Silverlining Rights has expanded its sales slate after picking up a one-off doc produced for Channel 5 (Channel 5) that explores alcoholism. My Name is… and I’m an Alcoholic is produced … Continued

C21 Media, Richard Middleton 14th October, 2015 Silverlining Rights has picked up international distribution rights to a show from UK prodco Knickerbockerglory about doctors. GPs: Behind Closed Doors (40×60’) will start airing on Channel 5 in the UK this evening … Continued

Broadcast, Matthew Campbell 24th September 2015 Pioneer Productions will explore the explosive relationship between Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots in a one-off docu-drama for BBC2. The 60-minute Bloody Queens: Elizabeth and Mary will use dramatic reconstruction to bring … Continued

C21 Media, Clive Whittingham,24th September 2015 BBC2 in the UK has commissioned a one-off factual drama about the lives of Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. Tinopolis-owned UK prodco Pioneer Productions is working on Bloody Queens: Elizabeth and … Continued

C21 Media, Richard Middleton 27th August 2015 National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) has linked up with Channel 5 (C5) in the UK and Smithsonian Channel on a two-hour special exploring some of the largest creatures ever to have lived on … Continued

Broadcast, Matthew Campelli 21st August 2015 Ben Fogle will front an ambitious ‘whale-fall’ experiment for ITV which will lure large sea creatures – including sharks – to the carcass of a whale. The natural history series, produced by Sussex-based indie … Continued

The Guardian, Press Association 21st August 2015 Adventurer Ben Fogle has embarked on an expedition to hunt for great white sharks in UK waters, using the carcass of a 30ft whale as bait. The investigation will reveal the hidden creatures … Continued

The Times (London), Gabriel Tate 19th August 2015 ★★★★☆ The producers of Terror on Everest: Surviving the Nepal Earthquake, meanwhile, Could Do Better. Even with extraordinary raw material, they couldn’t resist slathering a hyperbolic voice-over and soundtrack on top; what … Continued

C21 Media, Richard Middleton 18th August 2015 ABC in Australia and networks across Europe have picked up a documentary about a little-known hero of the 9/11 attacks in the US. 9/11: The Lost Hero has been produced by UK-based Testimony … Continued

Realscreen, Daniele Alcinii 14th August, 2015 The Testimony Films-produced doc reveals a firsthand account from Jason Thomas (pictured), a former Marine Corps sergeant, on the events surrounding his rescue of two New York City police officers – Will Jimeno and … Continued

C21 Media, Richard Middleton 13th August, 2015 A UK broadcaster has picked up Smithsonian Channel’s one-hour doc about the earthquake in Nepal that killed more than 8,000 people in April. Channel 4 has acquired rights to Nepal Quake: Terror on … Continued

Mail Online 5th June, 2015 It’s now a given that most every natural disaster, even in a location as remote as Nepal, will be captured by gripping amateur video. The challenge for the Smithsonian Channel was taking this material and … Continued

ABC.net 4th June, 2015 On Saturday 25th April 2015, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake devastated Nepal, killing more than eight thousand people and leaving over a million homeless. As the quake struck, climbers on Mount Everest were caught in a massive … Continued

C21 Media, Richard Middleton 2nd June, 2015 Smithsonian Channel in the US has ordered a one-off documentary about the earthquakes that struck Nepal in April from a fledgling UK production outfit. Nepal Quake: Terror on Everest (1×60′) tells the story … Continued

TV By the Numbers, Amanda Kondolojy 1st June, 2015   SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL™ REVEALS HARROWING ACCOUNTS OF EARTHQUAKES AND AVALANCHE IN THE SHADOW OF MOUNT EVEREST NEPAL QUAKE: TERROR ON EVEREST PREMIERING SUNDAY, MONDAY JUNE 8 AT 9 PM ET/PT New York, June … Continued

Broadcast Now – Matthew Campelli 30 March 2015 Channel 4 has ordered a fast-turnaround documentary about the safety of flying following last week’s Germanwings air disaster. ITN Productions’ How Safe Are Our Planes? is an hour-long film which will investigate … Continued

The Daily Fray, JOHN HOWELL, 9th November 2014 Madison Stewart wanted to get one thing straight before production began on “Shark Girl,” a film that depicts global misunderstanding and a man-made attack against sharks. “I made them put it in the contract … Continued

C21Media, Richard Middleton 22nd October, 2014 Discovery Networks Western Europe has ordered an eight-part factual show for its Animal Planet channel in the UK from indie Blink Films. Meet the Orangutans (8×30) reveals the comical and sometimes tragic stories of … Continued

BroadcastNow 18 July 2014 Channel 4 has commissioned a fast-turnaround Dispatches investigating the tragedy of the Malaysia-bound flight shot down in Ukraine. Murder In The Sky – Flight MH17 will TX on Monday night (21 July) in the broadcaster’s 8pm … Continued

Channel 4 Press Release 13 JUN 2014 On Friday 23 May, British born Elliot Rodger killed six students, injured thirteen, caused carnage across nine locations in Santa Barbara before turning the gun on himself. Online he had posted his troubled … Continued

Smithsonian Newsdesk 7th May 2014 Madison Stewart is an inspiring young woman with a passion to protect the creatures most people fear: sharks. Known to many simply as “shark girl,” she’s been diving with sharks since the age of 12. … Continued

Realscreen, Kevin Ritchie 3rd April, 2014 U.S. cable networks Smithsonian Channel and Discovery en Español are to air one-off specials about the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 mystery. Smithsonian Channel will air Malaysia 370: The Plane That Vanished on April 6 … Continued

C21Media, Nico Franks 3rd April, 2014 Discovery Networks International (DNI) and Smithsonian Channel in the US have both commissioned one-hour investigations into the disappearance of Flight 370. DNI has ordered Flight 370: The Missing Links, which attempts to gather the … Continued

C21Media, Clive Whittingham 22nd January, 2014 Discovery Networks International (DNI), Discovery Canada and PBS have commissioned a four-part series on the relationships forged between humans and animals. My Wild Affair (4×60’) is being produced by Blink Films and Newroad Media … Continued