MIPTV Spotlight: Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution

Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution has a handful of new dramas for MIPTV buyers this year and is looking forward to presenting such titles as Trust, 9-1-1 and The Resident.

Trust looks at one of America’s wealthiest families, the Gettys. “Equal parts family history, dynastic saga and an examination of the corrosive power of money, Trust explores the complexities at the heart of every family, rich or poor,” says Richard Samuels, the executive VP for the Asia Pacific and managing director of Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution’s Sydney office.

The procedural drama 9-1-1 explores the high-pressure experiences of police officers, paramedics and firefighters, while the medical drama The Resident focuses on a young doctor’s final years of training.

“MIPTV is an opportunity to review the performance of our mid-season shows and provide updates on potential pilot pickups ahead of the L.A. Screenings,” adds Samuels.

The half-hour comedy How I Met Your Mother ran for nine successful seasons in the U.S., and Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution is making the format available to international buyers looking to localize the show.

The company also offers format rights for the hit drama Prison Break. The comedy The Mick already has two seasons under its belt in the U.S., and the format is available for licensing.

Dorothy Crompton, the VP of format licensing at Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution, says that the company’s scripted formats “cross borders to engage and resonate in each territory with the best in local storytelling. Scripted programs dominate channel rankings, and the popularity of localized scripted formats allows you to engage the more sophisticated viewers.” She adds, “Big international television franchises are known in the industry, but the best success comes from local adaptations.”