BBC Worldwide and Starz Sign Multi-Year TV Deal!

Just days after Starz Entertainment CEO Chris Albrecht said his company might not continue to produce the popular BBC show Torchwood, Starz and the BBC signed a multi-year agreement to co-develop and co-finance international television content produced by BBC Worldwide Productions.

According to the deal, Starz will distribute the shared content in the U.S. and Canada, while BBC Worldwide will distribute internationally.

Prior to this new agreement, the two companies previously worked together in a similar approach to co-finance and distribute ten episodes of Torchwood: Miracle Day, which has garnered strong reviews and solid ratings. Jane Tranter, head of BBC Worldwide Productions, recently announced that the first project to be developed under the new multi-year deal will be Da Vinci’s Demons, written by David S. Goyer. Until the advent of this pact, BBC Worldwide was primarily known for producing the hit ABC reality dance competition series Dancing with the Stars, but will now be a major supplier of scripted programming in America.

Regarding the partnership, Albrecht said: “When I came to Starz, we determined that forging strong international partnerships would play center stage in financing our ramp-up of dynamic original programming. This exciting partnership with BBC Worldwide Productions is a major step in that direction. It will allow us to provide Starz subscribers more original programming, while delivering enhanced opportunity across all our domestic distribution businesses including Anchor Bay and Starz Digital Media. Jane Tranter and the incredible teams at BBC Worldwide Productions and BBC Worldwide will be terrific partners, and we are very pleased to be able to extend our relationship with them through this venture.”

Likewise, Tranter declared: “[BBC World Wide Prods. is] in a uniquely similar place to Starz. With [CEO Chirs Albrecht]‘s arrival, Starz made a name in originals and is defining themselves as a true player in the U.S. premium cable territory. At BBC Worldwide Productions, we’ve hit our stride in the scripted business after starting these efforts just over two years ago. Working with Starz on ‘Torchwood: Miracle Day’ has been a collaborative and invigorating journey. We’re very much looking forward to bringing Starz’ subscribers more of the programming they’re coming to expect – intelligent, groundbreaking, and honest storytelling, which is synonymous with our BBC roots and values.”

Cheers to Chris and Jane for delivering more scripted BBC quality programming to American and British viewers living across the pond!

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BBC Cuts Torchwood Gay Sex Scene in Britain – But U.S Starz To Show it!

I always thought it was the other way around, what was too racy for the Americans; the UK couldn’t lap up enough.

Notorious for their strong censorship, the Americans have decided on this occasion to air the ‘graphic’ gay scene that features John Barrowman (pictured left) as bisexual Captain Jack Harkness romping with another man; however, the BBC has just announced it is to axe the lewd sex act from an upcoming episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day fearing a public outcry.

What’s happened to us Brits? Have we all gone soft or something!?

Last night, the BBC confirmed the scene had been axed along with another gruesome scene later in the series, a source said: “It wasn’t that it was a gay scene that worried people, but just the fact that it was such an explicit sex scene full stop. You can get away with scenes like that on American cable channels, but you can’t on primetime BBC One.” 

The source added: “Even though the show airs after the watershed, it has a lot of young fans who would have been shocked at the graphic nature of the sex.”

Barrowman, in recent interviews promised Torchwood fans that the new series would be its sexiest yet, with “man sex” and “full-on” nudity.

Leaping to the shows defense he insisted that the sex scenes are part of the plot and not “gratuitous.” He said: “It’s not gratuitous sex. It facilitates the story, so it’s nothing they grab just to put on the camera and sensationalize it.”

Fans were furious the BBC began broadcasting the series six days after it premiered on Starz. The backlash against the decision had actress Eve Myles who plays Gwen Cooper speaking out against the BBC by saying: “If it was up to me and John we’d show it to UK fans straight away.” 

The BBC argued that it had a contract with Starz, which meant it couldn’t broadcast the series for at least 24 hours after the American broadcaster and eventually they chose a slot that was the “best” for the show.

Well, it has to be said; banning scenes is the kind of censorship that will certainly have people wanting to see what all fuss is about. So I’d say it’s probably not such a bad thing for Torchwood that this has happened and it could well give John Barrowman’s star-power the much-needed boost to get him noticed a little more in Tinseltown!

I for one WILL be watching!

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Torchwood Blazes Trail Toward International Success!

The British sci-fi series Torchwood continues to gain fantastic momentum in America as development of the show’s fourth season commences. Last June, U.S. premium cable television channel Starz agreed to co-finance as well as carry the Doctor Who spinoff on its network and now Torchwood has expanded its writing staff to include A-list American sci-fi story tellers as well.

The three new writers are Doris Egan, who worked on House, Jane Espenson who wrote for Battlestar Galactica (one of my personal favorites), and John Shiban, who contributed to The X-Files. Original cast members John Barrowman and Eve Myles are set to reprise their roles of Captain Jack Harkness and Gwen Cooper respectively. The show goes back into production, this time in North America, in January and will air next summer.

The skills of all of these talented people combined with the brilliant guidance of creator Russell T. Davies are sure to make the fourth season of Torchwood the best one yet! Thank our lucky Starz!

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