Ed Meza @edmezavar U.S. streaming service Topic has inked an exclusive U.S. and Canadian rights deal with Germany’s Beta Film for four European crime series ahead of this year’s Mipcom TV programming mart in Cannes.
Dedicated to crime and suspense, Topic, part of First Look Entertainment, picked up the third season of critically acclaimed Austrian-German series “Pagan Peak”; Finnish title “Helsinki Syndrome”; “Silent Road” from Greece; and Croatian-Ukrainian co-production “The Silence.” The agreement also includes renewals of Italian political thriller “1992” and follow-up seasons “1993” and “1994.” Described as Italy’s “House Of Cards,” the show examines how Italian politics were shaken to the core by a major criminal investigation against widespread corruption in the 1990s.
Arriving on the eve of its third anniversary, the deal fortifies Topic’s drive to elevate crime and suspense thrillers from around the globe for its North American subscribers, the company stated.
Inspired by Nordic series “The Bridge” and produced by Wiedemann & Berg Television in co-production with Epo-Film for Sky Germany, “Pagan Peak” follows German detective Ellie (Julia Jentsch) and Austrian colleague Gedeon (Nicholas Ofczarek), who, in Season 3, have become bitter enemies but are nevertheless forced to deal with a string of mysterious murders on both sides of the German-Austrian border. “Beta has been an invaluable partner to work with since Topic’s launch, and we are delighted to continue collaborating with them as we approach our third anniversary as the premier curator of elevated crime and suspense programs from around the world,” said Jennifer Liang, Topic’s vice president of programming strategy, acquisitions and sales. “These hit
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