FUSE MEDIA SECURES NEW CONTENT DEAL WITH BBC STUDIOS FOR MORE THAN 60 HOURS OF PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING THE AWARD-WINNING DRAMA “LUTHER,” STARRING IDRIS ELBA
NEW SLATE DEBUTS ON FUSE BEAT ON OCTOBER 19
LOS ANGELES, October 19, 2021 — Fuse Media today announced a content deal with BBC Studios that will bring more than 60 hours of programming – including seasons 1-4 of award-winning series Luther starring Idris Elba – to its Fuse Beat streaming brand. The deal will also include the U.S. premiere of British sketch show, Famalam.
Fuse Beat, a new free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) brand that moves to the rhythm of Black culture, launched in partnership with Quincy Newell’s Twentyone14 Media and Cinedigm earlier this year. BBC Studios’ programming joins an already robust lineup of Hollywood movies, original series, specials, and award-winning docs. It is available on major FAST platforms.
“As we continue to nurture our programming for Fuse Beat, we’re thrilled to be partnering with BBC Studios to offer their award-winning slate of series and movies,” said Mike Roggero, CEO, Fuse Media. “BBC’s content is filled with culture, diverse representation, and captivating storytelling, so it’s only fitting that Fuse Beat is able to offer this programming for free to U.S. audiences”
“Throughout history black culture has proven to be a driving force in global popular culture,” said Quincy Newell, Founder and CEO, TwentyOne14 Media. “The experience we’re creating with Fuse Beat is unique, inclusive, and wildly entertaining, and my hope is that the addition of this amazing content from BBC Studios will help to further our mission of making Fuse Beat a global culture connector.”
“BBC Studios is deeply committed to powerful storytelling and globally-recognized characters,” said Dina Vangelisti, EVP, Content Sales, BBC Studios. “Luther is an iconic character, brought to life by the wonderful Idris Elba – and now we get to bring this highly-acclaimed series to a new home and audience. Famalam is a staple of UK television and Fuse Beat is the ideal partner to show it in the U.S. for the first time.”
In addition to the series Luther, the following programming fills out the newly acquired BBC Slate:
TV Series premiering in November:
- Africa With Ade Adepitan follows Ade Adepitan as he embarks on an epic four-part journey around Africa, discovering the stories, people and places that make this continent the most exciting on earth.
- The Aliens – Aliens have landed in the UK and are now unwanted immigrants living in a walled off section of town. Lewis is a border guard making sure aliens and humans remain separate, but when he discovers that he’s half alien, his whole world is turned on its head.
- In A Black and White Killing, journalist Mobeen Azhar uncovers the truth behind alleged racist killings.
- Moses Jones – When a brutally mutilated body is discovered in the Thames, Moses Jones is put on the case by his superiors at Scotland Yard, simply because of his ethnic heritage.
- The Shadow Line is a series about a murder investigated by both sides of the line, cops and criminals, and the opposing methods they use to solve it.
- Undercover – Drama series in which a defense lawyer tries to finally uncover the truth of an old miscarriage of justice, while her husband goes to any lengths to conceal the truth about his own past.
TV Series premiering in December:
- In Enterprice, Entrepreneurs Kazim and Jeremiah are rolling out their new home delivery service. Jerry’s got the brains, Kaz is the big dreamer – together they’re pushing to escape the hustle.
- Famalam shines a comedic light on everything – from alien encounters in the outer reaches of the galaxy to what happens when a man is left on his own in a house for 10 minutes holding only a phone and a remote.
- Youngers is a dramedy set in south-east London following a group of friends trying to negotiate their way through teenage life in a world that’s more about swagger than straight A’s.
Movies and specials:
- Five By Five is a series of short films starring Idris Elba. Five writers. Five characters. One story. Set in London, the five standalone films feature chance encounters between characters which question identity and change perceptions.
- From Bafta-winning writer and director Dominic Savage, Born Equal follows the action around a B&B temporarily housing the homeless and dispossessed. Starring David Oyelowo, Nikki Amuka-Bird and Colin Firth.
About Fuse Beat
Fuse Beat, a new free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) brand, moves to the rhythm of Black culture. An entertainment and lifestyle destination that celebrates the multifaceted culture and its contributions, Fuse Beat provides a diverse and inclusive portrayal of the world around us. Dive into this melting pot of experiences, perspectives, and style with our curated selection of movies, fan favorite series, award-winning docs, music and comedy performances. Fuse Beat is a partnership between Cinedigm, Quincy Newell’s TwentyOne14 and Fuse Media, a minority owned, multicultural focused, multiplatform entertainment company.
About Fuse Media
Fuse Media is a Latino-owned, multi-platform entertainment company dedicated to documenting and celebrating our increasingly blended America through engaging and vibrant storytelling. With a portfolio of award-winning original content and a growing global footprint, Fuse strives to authentically reflect the world of its young and diverse audience, pioneering a multicultural and creative destination. The Fuse Media family includes Fuse, Fuse+, Fuse Backstage, Fuse Beat, FM (Fuse Music), Fuse Sweat, fuse.tv, and Fuse Content Studio, its in-house production arm, as well as a growing branded content and live events business. For more information, visit www.fusepress.tv
About TwentyOne14 Media
TwentyOne14 Media is an advisory, and digital-first content production and distribution company focused on providing independent filmmakers, intellectual property rights holders and brands cross platform monetization solutions. The mission at TwentyOne14 Media is to create and deliver resonant content to targeted audiences by leveraging digital technology as the anchor exploitation mechanism, with TwentyOne14 Media serving as the connection point between creatives of color, consumer-friendly technology offerings and a focused, specialized audience. For more information, visit: twentyone14media.com
About Cinedigm
For more than twenty years, Cinedigm (NASDAQ: CIDM) has led the digital transformation of the entertainment industry. Today, Cinedigm entertains hundreds of millions of consumers around the globe by providing premium content, streaming channels and technology services to the world’s largest media, technology and retail companies.
About BBC Studios
BBC Studios, a global content company with bold British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC. Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, its activities span content financing, development, production, sales, branded services, and ancillaries across both its own productions, and programs and formats made by high-quality UK independents. Award-winning British programs made by the business are internationally recognized across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Dancing with the Stars/Strictly Come Dancing, Top Gear, Doctor Who and Bluey. BBC Studios has offices in 22 markets globally, including ten production bases in the UK and production bases or partnerships in a further nine countries around the world. The company, which ordinarily makes around 2,500 hours of content a year for both the BBC and third parties including Apple, Amazon and China Mobile, is a champion for British creativity around the world. It is also a committed partner for the UK’s independent sector through a mix of equity partnerships, content investment and international distribution for program titles. To the BBC, BBC Studios contributes both cash dividends and funds for program-making, supporting the license fee and enhancing programs for UK audiences.
In the Americas, BBC Studios – with team members across the region – manages joint venture relationships with AMC Networks for flagship channel BBC AMERICA (U.S.) – home of original series Killing Eve and global brands Seven Worlds: One Planet, Doctor Who, and Top Gear – and with ITV for SVoD service BritBox (U.S./Canada), as well as a strategic partnership in Canada with Blue Ant Media for BBC Earth Channel and BBC First. The company also operates a robust linear and digital content sales and co-productions operation, as well as a franchise management business. In addition, BBC Studios operates a major production unit in Los Angeles responsible for the highly-rated, Emmy®-winning Dancing with the Stars, the multi-award-winning Life Below Zero, and the popular reboot of the classic quiz show Weakest Link. In Brazil, through a production partnership with Endemol Shine, local production Dancing Brasil has become a breakout hit. In addition, the company has recently launched BBC SELECT in the U.S. and Canada, an ad-free, digital streaming channel offering all-new documentaries across culture, politics and ideas, on Amazon Prime Video Channels and the Apple TV app.
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