Paion conjures up happenings around the world

Passion Distribution, which continues to see global success from its magic UKTV content, is excited to be distributing brand new magic series THE HAPPENINGS (4 x 60') from the UK broadcaster, and has made major presales for the show in the Pacific Rim region.

THE HAPPENINGS stars BAFTA nominated magicians Barry and Stuart, as they attempt to make the unbelievable believable. Each episode focuses on a different paranormal theme, THE HAPPENINGS: ALIEN INVASION; VAMPIRE; HAUNTED TOWN; SIXTH SENSE.

In Australia, Seven Network pre-bought THE HAPPENINGS after seeing huge ratings success with DYNAMO: MAGICIAN IMPOSSIBLE, which has consistently won its primetime slot. Now in Season 4, DYNAMO is one of Passion's most successful series reaching over 200 territories.

Angus Ross, Seven's Director of Programming, said:

Dynamo has made magic one of the hottest genres in Australian primetime. Barry and Stuart are really taking things to the next level with The Happenings and we are so pleased its on Australias home of magic, the Seven Network.

The show has been a global talking point and Passion is in discussions with many broadcasters. A deal has also been finalised with TVNZ in New Zealand and Passion is currently inking a deal with a major U.S. broadcaster for the series.

Jonathan Newman, Head of Programme Distribution at UKTV said:

The Happenings is a tremendously exciting new project for UKTV and we're delighted by the early response to it from overseas buyers. Passion have done a brilliant job with international sales of Dynamo: Magician Impossible and it's great to be working with them on another tent-pole UKTV commission.

Produced for UKTV's leading entertainment channel Watch, THE HAPPENINGS is a co-production between Crook Productions and Objective Productions, the producers of Derren Brown. Quietly slipping into four unsuspecting towns in the UK and US and through magic, illusion and sleight of hand, Barry and Stuart create events so strange for the residents, no one would usually believe them. As the phenomena build, the pair use their magic to create a stunning finale, so that when the time comes, the strange happenings will have no other explanation and the town people will believe.

The first episode premiered in the UK on the Monday 9th December to successful ratings, 39% up on slot average. In the launch show, named THE HAPPENINGS: ALIEN INVASION, Barry and Stuart use crop circles, abductions, and mystifying magical illusions to make the town's people believe aliens have landed.

ENDS About Passion Distribution Passion Distribution was officially launched by its founder and CEO, Sally Miles, in 2008. In November 2012, Passion Distribution became part of the Tinopolis Group merging with Mentorn International and increasing the catalogue to over 8,000 hours.

London based Passion Distribution now specialises in popular quality programming and formats in genres including Factual Entertainment, Reality, Documentaries, Lifestyle, Drama, Comedy and Game-shows. Passion Distribution has exclusive distribution agreements with many US broadcasters and production companies including Scripps Networks International, Sundance Channel, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, The Weather Channel and World of Wonder and also benefits from the relationship with all Tinopolis Group companies including Firecracker Films, Mentorn Media, A Smith & Co. Productions, Daybreak Pictures and Pioneer Productions.

The company is active in pre-selling, finding co-pro partners and deficit funding third party content.

About UKTV UKTV is the multi-award winning media company that reaches over 42 million viewers per month.

UKTVs ten imaginative channel brands - Watch, Dave, Gold, Alibi, Eden, Yesterday, Drama, Really, Home and Good Food - include the most watched non-PSB channel, the most watched channel in the Factual genre and the most watched channels in the Lifestyle genre (Pay and Free). The company's most recent financial results showed a record-breaking year-end revenue of £262m, and operating profit at £71m.

UKTV has a truly innovative model, curating brand-defining commissions, high-profile acquisitions and the very best of BBC and Channel 4 content, and embracing technology to deliver inspired channels to audiences through Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT Vision, TalkTalk, YouView, plus direct On Demand digital services. The network distributes its highly valued programmes to 200 territories around the world and supplies Sky with more hours of HD content than anyone else.

Now celebrating its 21st year at the forefront of digital television, UKTV - an independent commercial joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (SNI) - is proud to be the only British broadcaster to be recognised by Best Companies.

LINK:	http://corporate.uktv.co.uk/news/article/passion-conjures-happenings-a...
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