Reel One Entertainment & UP TV Enter Scripted Series Deal

CANNES: Montreal-based production and distribution company Reel One Entertainment and UP TV have inked an international development, production and distribution agreement that will see the entities create scripted content to air on the U.S. cable network.

Under the deal, UP TV, a U.S. cable network that broadcasts family-focused syndicated scripted series such as Growing Pains and Gilmore Girls, and Reel One Entertainment will develop original scripted family content. The companies will collaborate to source and develop scripted episodic series that will premiere on UP TV in the U.S. and will be distributed worldwide by Reel One. The deal marks UP TV’s continued expansion in the original programming space and builds on its relationship with Reel One Entertainment, which produces and distributes Ties that Bind (a.k.a. Detective McLean), UP TV’s first scripted series.

At the helm for UP TV is Barbara Fisher, the network’s senior VP of original programming, who has supervised the development and production of the network’s scripted series and movies. Prior to joining UP, Fisher was senior VP of original programming at Hallmark, where she oversaw the development and production of movies, miniseries, specials and series for the channel. She was previously the executive VP of entertainment at Lifetime Entertainment. Reel One’s Louisa Cadywould, the VP and head of international distribution, is at MIPTV meeting with select broadcasters as additional co-production partners on this new venture.

“It has always been part of our company’s vision to expand into the production, finance and distribution of scripted series, in close collaboration with broadcasters who share our vision, commitment and values,” said Reel One Entertainment’s CEO Tom Berry. “We believe that there is a fantastic unrealized potential in many countries to provide UP’s style of programming to international networks and to cater to this often neglected audience.”

UP’s president and CEO Charley Humbard added, “In light of today’s current global climate, the demand for positive content that can bring audiences together is greater than ever. Reel One and UP share similar values and a vision to make gripping and entertaining drama that connects with an audience and that has family in mind. We are thrilled to enter into this partnership with such a prolific and established production partner.”