Netflix continues to position itself as a competitor to major international broadcasters by bidding on exclusive rights to TV series.
The latest acquisition, where the streaming service is the lone web-TV network to bid on a buzzy show, is BBC Worldwide’s The Honourable Woman (8 X 60 minutes). The series stars Maggie Gyllenhaal and follows a character who is at the forefront of negotiating a peace process in the Middle East.
Written, directed and produced by BAFTA winner Hugo Blick (The Shadow Line), the series was pre-sold to the Nordics (HBO) and France (Canal+) earlier this year. Just ahead of MIPCOM, BBC Worldwide announced Tuesday that the drama has also been sold to Israel (HOT), Canada (CBC), Iceland (RUV), Norway (TV2), Spain (Canal+), South Africa (BBC Entertainment) and Australia (BBC First). Netflix picked up the U.S. rights.
The Honourable Woman is a Drama Republic and Eight Rooks Production for BBC and Sundance TV.