London, 14 May 2015. AMC Networks International Broadcasting Ltd, part of AMC Networks International – Zone (AMCNI – Zone) announced today that it has commissioned Circle Films to produce its first UK series “Donal MacIntyre: Unsolved” to be premiered in primetime on CBS Reality as part of the channel’s autumn lineup in the UK and EMEA.
“Donal MacIntyre: Unsolved” is a 12 x 60 series in which Donal MacIntyre analyses some of the most notorious and intriguing unsolved cases in the UK and Ireland, exploring how these cases have never been closed and have never successfully brought about convictions.
Using interviews and access to the case files, Donal and his expert team will analyse the evidence, speak to those who remember the mystery surrounding these unsolved cases and explore why they have remained enigmas despite modern detective methods. Cases include: the killing of Sophie Du Plantier, a French film producer brutally murdered outside her holiday home in County Cork shortly before Christmas 1996; the robbery and murder of Leeds millionaire businessman John Luper at his home in 2004, and missing schoolboy Daniel Entwistle, age 7, who disappeared in May 2003 in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
Donal MacIntyre says of the coproduction, “I am delighted to be working with AMCNI – Zone, bringing some compelling stories and investigations to the screen with an exceptional team comprising of criminologists, forensic pathologists, ex-Scotland Yard Homicide detectives and others as we try to shed new light on high profile modern murder mysteries.”
In 2013, CBS Reality featured a one-hour documentary special Donal MacIntyre: Murder in Paradise. The documentary re-examined the murder of Irish sweetheart Michaela McAreavey whilst on honeymoon in Mauritius. It was the first UK commission for the channel and aired on 30th June, making it the highest rating premiere of that year.*
Sam Rowden, Director of Programming, CBS Reality and New Media, says, “We are pleased to have Donal MacIntyre and Circle Films as production partners on this home-grown crime series. Viewers’ appetite for crime mysteries has grown exponentially in recent months and we look forward to bringing local cold cases to CBS Reality in our autumn schedule.”
David Harvey of Circle Films added, “We’re delighted to be working with AMCNI – Zone. CBS Reality is a premier showcase for true crime and this series will fit very neatly into its high impact output. Donal is an internationally recognised investigative journalist with a really strong track record, and we’re delighted to be partnering on what will be a highly watchable series focused on the UK and Ireland.”
CBS Reality is the fastest growing channel within CBS AMC’s UK portfolio and has continued to see significant audience growth year on year. It is now the biggest factual entertainment channel in the UK amongst adult women and the 27th most watched channel in the UK.**
* Donal MacIntyre: Murder in Paradise pulled in 122K viewers, BARB-Tech Edge
** March 2015, BARB-Tech Edge
About AMC Networks International – Zone
AMC Networks International – Zone is a leading international broadcaster and distributor of fourteen thematic television channels across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The diverse portfolio includes AMC, Sundance Channel, Eva, Extreme Sports Channel, MGM Channel and preschool channel JimJam together with joint venture and partnership channels: Outdoor Channel & Polsat JimJam, plus CBS Drama, CBS Action, CBS Reality, CBS Europa and Horror Channel with CBS Studios International.
The consolidated and joint venture channels reach audiences in more than 160 million homes across over 120 countries and in 25 languages.
AMC Networks International – Zone is a business unit of AMC Networks International which delivers entertaining and acclaimed programming to more than 140 countries and territories, including Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.