ABC Drama The Newsreader Scores Major International Sales

Entertainment One (eOne) has announced a spate of high-profile international sales for The Newsreader, a one-hour drama series starring Anna Torv (Mindhunter, Fringe) and Sam Reid (Prime Suspect 1973, Lambs of God).

The gripping six-part drama has been sold to BBC (UK), ARTE (France and Germany), RTE (Ireland), Viaplay (Nordic and Baltic regions, Poland, and the Netherlands), Cosmo (Spain), Filmin (Portugal and 2nd window in Spain), Now TV (Hong Kong), TELUS (Canada), and NBCUniversal International Networks & Direct-To-Consumer) and NBCUniversal International Networks & Direct-To- (Latin America). The Newsreader, which was ranked fourth on Variety’s top 13 list of The Best International TV Shows of 2021, follows the interaction between an ambitious rookie TV reporter and the star female news anchor in a commercial TV newsroom set in the 1980s.

“The response to this series has been overwhelmingly positive with critics and audiences embracing the workplace drama told against the backdrop of some of the most pivotal historical events of the era,”

– said Stuart Baxter, President, International Distribution, eOne.

“Delivering this type of captivating content is part of our ongoing commitment to bring premium and gripping programming to our clients around the world.”

In Australia, The Newsreader was ABC’s #1 most watched drama of 2021, and secured a Total Average Audience of 1.5 million across all linear and BVoD platforms.  The Newsreader was also ABC’s highest rated new drama premiere of 2021 in the commercial target A25-54*. In addition, the series launched to critical acclaim with The Sydney Morning Herald giving it “5 out of 5 stars” and The Guardian hailing it as “a well-told, engrossing drama.”

The Newsreader garnered a staggering 16 nominations at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (AACTAs) securing five awards including Best Drama Series, Best Production Design in Television and Best Direction in Drama or Comedy. Anna Torv won Best Lead Actress in a Drama and William McInnes won Best Supporting Actor in a Drama.

The Newsreader depicts the dramas and tensions of this high-octane workplace as well investigating the political and personal power struggles of the world, still very much relevant today. Torv plays Helen Norville, a glamourous and talented newsreader and, in the chauvinistic world of TV news, often overlooked. Helen finds herself partnered with junior reporter Dale Jennings (Reid) and their personal and private relationship will be set against the very public pressures of reporting some of the most iconic news stories of the era to the nation.

In addition to Torv and Reid, The Newsreader features a talented ensemble cast including Robert Taylor (Longmire), Logie Award winners Stephen Peacocke (Five Bedrooms, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot), William McInnes (Unfinished Sky, Blue Heelers), Chum Ehelepola (Lodge 49, Lady Dynamite), Michelle Lim Davidson (Utopia, Get Krack!n), Chai Hansen (The New Legends of Monkey) and Marg Downey (Fast Forward, Top of the Lake: China Girl).

The Newsreader is produced by multi-award-winning Werner Film Productions, for the ABC in Australia, with major investment from Screen Australia and the ABC and financed with support from Film Victoria.  Created and written by Michael Lucas (Offspring, Five Bedrooms). Produced by Lucas and three-time Emmy nominated producer Joanna Werner (Clickbait, Dance Academy), the series is directed by Emma Freeman (Stateless, Love Me). Executive produced by Werner and Stuart Menzies (The Cry), with ABC executive producers Sally Riley and Brett Sleigh.

*Source: OzTAM Metro audience, RegionalTAM audience, OzTAM VPM audience