Target Takes On Cloudstreet, Scores U.K. Deal

LONDON: Target Entertainment has picked up the international sales rights for the Australian drama Cloudstreet, and already secured a deal with Sky Atlantic HD for the show.

Cloudstreet debuted on Showtime Australia’s Showcase Channel in May. The mini-series is produced by Screentime and is based on the award-winning novel by Tim Winton. The show will make its way to Sky Atlantic HD later this year. Target will launch the show to the international market at MIPCOM.

Roadshow Entertainment has acquired the DVD rights for the mini-series for Australia and DVD and TV rights in New Zealand.

Peter Rose, the CEO of Showtime Australia, said: “Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet cements Showtime Australia’s continued commitment to making outstanding television entertainment for our premium channel showcase. I am delighted that an international distributor of Target’s calibre will be taking Cloudstreet to the world and that we will be partnering with Roadshow Entertainment in the DVD rights in Australia and DVD and television rights in New Zealand.”

Alison Rayson, the CEO of Target Entertainment, added: “This faithful television adaptation from Screentime of Tim Winton’s iconic bestselling novel is rich in onscreen talent, style and dramatic content, making it compulsive viewing for international audiences. We are very proud at Target to have won the global rights to such a prestigious and high end drama series from Showtime Australia and look forward hugely to presenting it to our buyers at MIPCOM in October.”

Chris Chard, Roadshow Entertainment’s managing director, commented: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Showtime Australia in releasing this very important mini-series to the home entertainment market. Cloudstreet has been a part of the Australian literary landscape for 20 years now, and we now have the honor of bringing this much-lauded series to the market for a new generation to enjoy.”

Des Monaghan, executive chairman of Screentime, said: “We are indebted to Tim Winton for entrusting us to take his magical novel from the page to the screen and we are delighted that our partnership with Showtime Australia led to such a well received result. We are confident that Alison Rayson and her team at Target will do a great job in introducing the world to the magic of Cloudstreet and that Chris Chard and his team at Roadshow will be equally successful in giving Australians the opportunity to acquire a permanent record of this landmark mini-series.”

Elaine Pyke, the director of Sky Atlantic HD, commented: “Epic, cinematic, beautifully written and directed, and featuring extraordinary performances, Cloudstreet is a perfect fit for Sky Atlantic HD.”

Hannah Worrall, Target Entertainment’s director of sales, added: “Sky Atlantic HD is the ideal home for Cloudstreet in the U.K. and this pick up underlines the quality of the drama.”