‘Midsomer Murders,’ All3Media, Spain’s Anima Kitchen

‘Midsomer Murders’ Continues to Thrill

Hit U.K. detective series “Midsomer Murders” is heading for its 26^th series after being commissioned by ITV and distributor All3Media Intl.

The four-episode commission of the much-loved prime-time series, a ratings hit around the world set in one of England’s most dangerous yet picturesque villages, brings the number of total episodes to 148, confirming the popularity of diligent Chief Inspector Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon).

Produced by Bentley Productions, executive produced by Michele Buck, and commissioned by ITV drama commissioner Huw Kennair-Jones along with All3Media International, series 26 invites viewers back to the surprisingly lethal English countryside for four new feature-length mysteries. Dudgeon stars alongside Nick Hendrix as his trusted sidekick Detective Sergeant Winter, the series also sees the return of Annette Badland as pathologist Dr. Fleur Perkins and Fiona Dolman as Barnaby’s wife Sarah.

“Midsomer Murders” remains a solid hit in a number of territories, including Germany, Scandinavia and the Baltics, and is still active in nearly 200 territories, from France to Australia and the U.S.

All3Media Intl. Strikes Deal in Kazakhstan

Leading Kazakhstan streaming platform Freedom Media has acquired 110 hours of premium scripted content from U.K. distributor All3Media Intl.

Freedom Media nabbed multiple seasons of such high-profile shows as the  Travis Fimmel-led mystery drama “Black Snow,” from Australia’s Goalpost Pictures; from Two Brothers Pictures, “The Tourist,” starring Jamie Dornan, and The Forge’s four-part political thriller “Roadkill,” starring Hugh Laurie as a charismatic politician whose life seems to be falling apart.

Freedom Media’s acquired slate also includes “The English,” starring Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer; psychological thriller “Angela Black,” featuring Joanne Froggatt; darkly comic thriller “Boat Story”; and “Captivated,” with Kara Tointon and Allen Leech, about a young mother who finds herself pulled into the orbit of a shady businessman.

Also in the package is Snowed-In Productions’ three-part drama “Too Close,” starring Emily Watson and Denise Gough; from Objective Fiction and Tannadice Pictures, heist series “The Gold,” starring Hugh Bonneville, Charlotte Spencer, Tom Cullen and Emun Elliott.

Further true crime series include Hera Pictures’ “I Fought the Law,” with Sheridan Smith as a mother fighting to change the law and find justice following her daughter’s murder; South Pacific Pictures’ “Far North,” about an international crime that lands on the shores of a small New Zealand community; New Pictures’ crime drama “The Long Shadow”; and Snowed-In Prods.’ historical drama “Mrs Wilson,” with Ruth Wilson starring as her real-life grandmother, a widow who uncovers a mysterious and secret life following the death of her husband.

Minika Embraces Spanish Toons

Spanish animation studio Ánima Kitchent has renewed its long-standing partnership with leading Turkish kids’ channel Minika for the hit preschool series “Cleo & Cuquín.”

The deal, extended for an additional four-year term, affirms the continued success of the show in Turkey: Minika originally licensed Seasons 1 and 2 of “Cleo & Cuquín” in 2021.

As part of the new agreement, Minika will retain the rights to the first two seasons and also acquire 30 episodes of the spin-off series “Cuquín: Discover & Explore.” Initially released as digital-first content, the new episodes will be debuting on Turkish television and VOD platforms, significantly expanding the brand’s presence in the region.

“This extended partnership not only highlights the strong connection the show has built with audiences in Turkey but also opens a new chapter with the introduction of ‘Cuquín: Discover & Explore’ to TV and VOD for the very first time,” said Miguel Aldasoro, Ánima Kitchent’s international sales and co-production director.

Minika chief content editor Elçin Koyuncu added that Minika was “dedicated to curating content that truly connects with audiences, and ‘Cleo and Cuquín’ is a shining example of that vision.”

New Game Show “The Auction” Headed to Italy

Dori Media and Abot Hameiri’s new game show “The Auction,” which debuted on América Televisión in Peru earlier this summer, is headed to Italy.

Italy’s Blu Yazmine has acquired rights to “The Auction” and is currently developing an Italian version of the format.

Dori Media and Abot Hameiri, in collaboration with América Televisión, produced the first season of “The Auction” (known locally as “La Subasta”), which became the #1 show in its prime-time slot in Peru on América Televisión during the summer and into the fall.

“The Auction” is a game show that pits two families in a competition for mysterious boxes in which they rely on bizarre AI-generated clues. Each team uses an equal budget to try and acquire prizes with the highest real-world value, while the audience at home also takes part, guessing the identity of hidden prizes in real time, turning the entire show into an interactive social guessing game.

In addition, Dori Media has licensed unscripted format “Intuition” to Portugal’s TVI, where the show will make its European debut in December. TVI has ordered 20 episodes of the game show, which was created by Dori Media and Oded Menashe, maker of the hit series “Smart Face.”

Dori Media has also signed leading Argentine production companies Kuarzo Entertainment Group and StoryLab to represent their scripted programming catalogues globally. Dori Media has already begun representing both Kuarzo and StoryLab as the companies head to Mipcom.

Sipur Studios, Untied Heroes Cook Up Israeli-Ukrainian Culinary Competition Format “SupermarketChef”

Israel’s Sipur Studios and Ukraine’s United Heroes will unveil the first season of their new cooking competition format “SupermarketChef” at Mipcom.

The fast-paced “SupermarketChef” celebrates delicious and simple meals prepared by the best home cooks from diverse cultures. Recruited at neighborhood supermarkets, unsuspecting shoppers must suddenly audition to become a national culinary star.

The standout chef chosen is whisked away from each location to compete on a supermarket soundstage, where they must craft familiar, delectable dishes at affordable prices.

If viewers and, ultimately, professional judges find their meals tantalizing, they will go on to vie for the title of Supermarket Chef and win a grand prize.