Three Tables Productions strikes eOne deal

https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/indies/three-tables-productions-strikes-eone-deal/5148733.article

By John Elmes 2 April 2020

Nascent drama label projects to be distributed globally by media giant

UK indie Three Tables Productions has struck a multi-year distribution deal with global media firm Entertainment One (eOne).

The nascent drama label will develop and produce original scripted programming with eOne handling international distribution.

Three Tables was founded last year by former Leopard Pictures head of development David Chikwe, Mystical Productions co-founder JT Wong and former UK Film Council exec Himesh Kar, with September Films founder David Green as its chair.

The indie is currently working on domestic and international scripted series with the likes of the BBC and France Télévisions-owned producer France.tv studio, including an adaptation of Jamila Gavin’s novel The Robber Baron’s Daughter. The drama is the focus of a single project development deal struck with super-indie Fremantle. The Fremantle arrangement is unaffected by the new eOne deal.

Three Tables is teaming up with Gavin and Picnic at Hanging Rock writer Beatrix Christian on The Robber Baron’s Daughter adaptation, and is working with other established talent including Simon Block (The Windermere Children and The Eichmann Show), Bola Agbaje (Gone too Far) and Veronica Gleeson (Sixteen).

“We are continually looking for ways to grow our distribution pipeline with commercial and individual content from truly creative suppliers,” said eOne executive vice-president of acquisitions Noel Hedges. “This new deal with Three Tables is a great opportunity to get in at ground level on just that.”

Wong said Three Tables would benefit from eOne’s global reach and scripted experience and hailed its “great creative and commercial sensibility”.

EOne has been steadily growing its UK presence in the unscripted world over the last 18 months, and has increasingly been on the lookout for drama partnerships.

Speaking to Broadcast earlier this year, Hedges said M&A activity frequently entered conversations with producers but warned that it would only be an option in the right circumstances. He added that first-look and development arrangements were models eOne also often considered.

“EOne has been very sensible not to get caught up in a wave of fury, fever and acquisition,” he said. “[Funding] drama has become increasingly complex for producers, so it’s very easy to get the business side wrong.”