The Catch, The Muppets Sell into 100-Plus Territories

CANNES: ABC Studios’ The Catch and The Muppets have been sold to 186 and 122 territories around the globe, respectively.

The Catch was snapped up in such territories as France, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, China, South Africa and Nigeria. The thriller is the latest series from executive producer Shonda Rhimes. It is about a successful fraud investigator who becomes the victim of fraud by her fiancé. The global sales of The Catch follow the success of the Shondaland and ABC Studios dramas How to Get Away with Murder, Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal.

Ben Pyne, the president of global distribution at Disney Media Networks, said: “It’s such a great time in the industry for scripted programming right now and the universal appeal of ABC Studios’ highlights its creativity and strength. I’m hugely proud of the production teams behind these fantastic titles and the strong sales reflect the global appeal for compelling, high-quality TV.”

The Muppets is headed to broadcasters in the U.K., Ireland, Italy, Denmark, Greece, Vietnam, South Africa, China, Afghanistan, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Russia and the Middle East, among others. The documentary-style show, produced by ABC Studios and The Muppets Studio, explores the professional and personal lives of the iconic puppets. It comes from co-writers and exec producers Bill Prady (The Big Bang Theory) and Bob Kushell (Anger Management).

Pyne added: “2015 has seen the hotly anticipated return of The Muppets to prime-time television, after more than 20 years. The international sales are a testament to the appeal of these lovable characters and taps into the TV nostalgia of our youth, while the fantastic writers and production team bring a very modern take to the series.”