Yahoo Lifestyle Aby Media, Globo Partner on African Adaptations of Hit Brazilian Scripted Titles: Will Present Lineup at MIP Africa (EXCLUSIVE)
Upstart Ivorian production company Aby Media, founded by Bernard and Kimberley Azria and Brazilian powerhouse Globo, have unveiled a new production-distribution agreement for a slate of popular Globo scripted titles. Under the new deal, Aby Media will be authorized to produce and distribute local versions of several Globo shows in the territory.
Both Aby Media and Globo will be at this year’s MIP Africa in Cape Town, held from Sept. 2-4, where they will showcase their slate of formats.
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Among the shows set to be adapted or distributed by Aby Media in Africa are “Pantanal,” “Total Dreamer,” “Shades of Sin” and “The Other Side of Paradise.” By producing local versions of the show, the partnership is intended to satisfy increasingly diverse demands from the audience.
“Having distributed Globo finished content in Africa for almost three decades, I’m particularly happy and proud to initiate with Globo this unprecedented landmark venture,” Bernard Azria explained of the new deal. “This partnership underscores our mutual commitment to excellence in storytelling and represents a significant step forward in bringing high-quality, engaging content to African audiences.”
Kimberley Azria added, “Our alliance with Globo highlights the importance of creativity and adaptation in today’s media industry. Together, we are dedicated to producing content that resonates with local viewers while upholding the highest production standards.”
Aby Media works with and develops local talent by producing both scripted and unscripted content meant to bridge cultural divides. It’s focused on telling diverse stories that can appeal to global audiences. Its current pipeline includes a local adaptation of SIC Portugal’s “Lucky Break,” a drama series about a fictional football club titled “Legends,” the politically charged missing person drama “Echoes” and a contemporary music-fueled series titled “Afrobeats.”
On the importance of these kinds of global partnerships, Globo Content Distribution and Partnership boss, Fábio Mauro said: “This partnership reinforces our sales strategy for formats, as was the case with ‘Brazil Avenue,’ which will be adapted in Turkey. We believe in the strength of our productions, in the universality of our plots, and with the sale of formats, it will be possible to bring Globo’s DNA and our Brazilianness and combine it with local production.”
Angela Colla, Head of International Business and Coproductions at Globo, added: “This initiative comes at a pivotal moment in today’s dynamic media landscape. As the demand for new, captivating shows intensifies, there is a simultaneous need to mitigate risks and optimize resources and adapting international scripted formats is, therefore, a strategic business and creative approach to navigate these complexities.”
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