The Van Vuuren brothers’ comedy Soul Mates will premiere in the US on Seeso, the NBCUniversal-owned online comedy channel which will launch in January.
It’s the streaming service’s second Australian acquisition, joining Sticky Pictures’ Sammy J & Randy in Ricketts Lane.
That’s a coup for the ABC and head of comedy Rick Kalowski, who commissioned both series. ABC Commercial negotiated the Soul Mates deal.
The ad-free channel will be available at www.seeso.com and on multiple platforms and connected devices for just $US3.99 per month.
Soul Mates was created by Christiaan and Connor Van Vuuren and Nick Boshier, written and directed by the brothers and produced by Chloe Rickard. A Van Vuuren Bros and Ludo Production in association with ABC TV, Screen Australia and Screen NSW, the series followed “two dickheads, bound together through different incarnations spanning the course of human history.”
A second series is in development with the ABC. Christiaan tells IF, “We’re in super good company on the Seeso platform with some really great comedies from around the world. There are some exciting developments in SVOD, which I think will generate a lot of shows going into production and more risk-taking. People can make shows without worrying about advertisers. Our show is not brand-friendly.”
Seeso’s launch line-up boasts more than 20 original series including HarmonQuest, which combines live action and animation from Community and Rick and Morty creator Dan Harmon; reality show spoof Bajillion Dollar Propertie$; workplace comedy Thingstarter; dating game improv show Dave & Ethan: Lovemakers; stand-up series Night Train with Wyatt Cenac and Take My Wife; travel show parody Hidden America with Jonah Ray; and dark family comedy Flowers, which stars Julian Barratt and Olivia Colman.
The content will also include NBC's Late Night shows, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, The Kids in the Hall and the US and UK versions of The Office.