‘Get Krack!n’.
Guesswork Television, the producer of Get Krack!n, Rosehaven and Hard Quiz, has launched its own distribution arm.
Guesswork Distribution will make its market debut next month at Mipcom in Cannes, aiming to exploit its slate of comedies and formats and to facilitate more co-productions with international partners.
Former Avalon Distribution executive Carly Hardman has been hired by Guesswork group MD Kevin Whyte as a consultant to spearhead sales efforts for Guesswork Distribution.
“It is an obvious extension for us as the television business becomes more globalised to reach out to broadcasters and producers around the world,” Whyte tells IF. “Most of what we do already has international partners.
“As we already represent comedy talent in our management business Token Artists it is not a big stretch for us to also represent their work.”
At Mipcom Whyte and Hardman will pitch the comedy series Get Krack!n from Kate McCartney and Kate McClennan, creators of YouTube hit The Katering Show, and Rosehaven.
A satire of morning lifestyle TV shows, Get Krack!n is attracting sizable audiences on the ABC on Wednesdays at 9.10 pm. The US rights are available since NBCUniversal decided to close its comedy-focused SVOD service Seeso, the original buyer.
Production has just wrapped on season 2 of Rosehaven, created by and starring Luke McGregor and Celia Pacquola. The first series will premiere in the US on Sundance TV and Sundance Now on September 27.
Whyte and Hardman also will be looking to sell the formats Hard Quiz, the gameshow where contestants have to dodge host Tom Gleeson’s acerbic remarks as they compete to become the ultimate quiz champion, and Network Ten’s The Project. Series 2 of Hard Quiz is screening on ABC on Wednesdays at 8pm.
At the UK-based Avalon Distribution Hardman handled international sales to Guesswork’s Please Like Me, a co-production with Participant Media. Whyte first met her when Avalon represented skitHOUSE, the sketch comedy series which aired on Ten in 2003-2004.
Whyte is confident of further format sales for The Project after New Zealand broadcaster Three successfully produced a local version this year. “Three has proved the model can work outside Australia,” he said, adding that he is having discussions with broadcasters in several major markets who are interested in optioning the format.
Also on Guesswork Distribution’s slate is The Edge of the Bush (5 x 10’), which features stand-up comic Anne Edmonds as the plays four characters, all built around a kind of frantic exasperation, directed by Kate McCartney.
The ABC commissioned the series for catch-up platform iview as part of its Long Story Short initiative with Screen Australia.
The broadcaster was so happy with the result the show launched simultaneously on the linear channel at 9.35pm Wednesday, following Get Krack!n. Whyte is confident it will appeal to outlets overseas which screen short-form content.