FOX Announces New Crime Drama Event Series BROADCHURCH

Boldly continuing its push for quality long-form event series, FOX Broadcasting Company (FOX) announced today a series order for Broadchurch (working title), an American version of the the U.K.'s most-watched new drama of the year. Produced in partnership with Shine America, and to be executive-produced by the original series' creator, Chris Chibnall ("Dr. Who," "Camelot"), the gripping crime series is scheduled to begin filming in January, for broadcast during the 2014-2015 season.

Set in an American town, Broadchurch (wt) follows the tragic and mysterious death of a young boy found dead on an idyllic beach surrounded by rocks and a jutting cliff-face, from where he may have fallen. Although the cause of his death remains unsolved, the picturesque seaside town where the tragedy occurred is at the heart of a major police investigation and a nationwide media frenzy.

Chibnall will write the premiere episode and executive-produce the series with Shine America's Carolyn Bernstein ("The Bridge") and Jane Featherstone ("The Hour," "Utopia") from drama producers Kudos. The series will be distributed by Shine International.

Broadcast on the U.K.'s ITV earlier this year, "Broadchurch," Chibnall's powerfully dark and thought-provoking drama starring David Tennant and Olivia Colman, took the U.K. by storm. Immediately garnering critical acclaim, the series built into a cultural phenomenon, and drew more than 10 million viewers for its season finale.

"BROADCHURCH is the kind of storytelling that grabs your attention and keeps you riveted with every minute - which is exactly what we look for in an event series," said Kevin Reilly, Chairman of Entertainment, FOX Broadcasting Company. "We love the layered characters, we've seen how well-received it's been in the U.K., and we're lucky to be able to bring a new version of this mystery to the U.S. audience."

"We are thrilled that this compelling series from creator Chris Chibnall and our sister company Kudos is going to be adapted for the American TV audience," said Rich Ross, CEO, Shine America. "And FOX is the perfect partner to help make Broadchurch (wt) an event here in the U.S. as it was earlier this year for millions of British viewers."

Jane Featherstone, Chief Executive, Kudos, added: "I am delighted to be working with Chris and everybody to bring BROADCHURCH's (wt) unique voice and vision to a new coastline, community and culture."

As part of its event series programming slate, FOX has two other exciting, large-scale drama projects scheduled to go into production for air in 2014. 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY, produced by Teakwood Lane Productions in association with 20th Century FOX Television and Imagine Television, will restart the clock on the groundbreaking and Emmy Award-winning drama franchise starring Kiefer Sutherland, once again following the exploits of heroic agent JACK BAUER (Sutherland), who will resume his story several years following the events of the final season. WAYWARD PINES, an intense, mind-bending thriller from executive producers M. Night Shyamalan ("The Sixth Sense," "Unbreakable"), Chad Hodge ("The Playboy Club"), Donald De Line ("Green Lantern," "The Italian Job"), Ashwin Rajan ("After Earth") and FX Productions, and starring Matt Dillon, Melissa Leo, Carla Gugino, Toby Jones and Terrence Howard, centers on Secret Service agent ETHAN BURKE (Dillon) who arrives in the bucolic town of Wayward Pines, ID, on a mission to find two missing federal agents. But instead of answers, Ethan's investigation only turns up more questions.

In addition, previously announced projects included in the network's marquee development slate include the FX Productions projects SH?GUN, from Academy Award-nominated producer Michael De Luca ("The Social Network," "Moneyball"), Michaela Clavell and Nigel Williams ("Elizabeth I"); and THE RUN OF HIS LIFE: THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON (working title), from Nina Jacobson ("The Hunger Games" franchise, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" franchise) and Brad Simpson ("World War Z," "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" franchise), based on legal journalist Jeffrey Toobin's best-selling book of the same name.

About FOX Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX), a unit of 21st Century Fox, is home to some of the highest-rated and most acclaimed series on television, including AMERICAN IDOL, THE FOLLOWING, NEW GIRL, Glee and THE SIMPSONS. The network ranked No. 1 in the key adult demographic for eight of the past 10 seasons and continues to dominate all network competition in the more targeted Adults 18-34 and Teen demographics. FOX airs 15 hours of Primetime programming a week as well as late-night entertainment programming, major sports and Sunday morning news. "Like" FOX on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FOXTV and follow the network on Twitter @FOXTV. For additional information about FOX, please visit www.fox.com.

About Shine America:
Shine America is a world leader in producing and distributing compelling scripted and unscripted television and digital content. Shine America is known for popular and award-winning original series, including "The Biggest Loser" and "The Face"; as well as adaptations of Shine Group formats, such as MASTERCHEF and "Minute to Win It"; and scripted series, including the new FX drama "The Bridge." Shine America has development deals with some of the top producers in television, including Nigel Lythgoe (Nigel Lythgoe Productions) and its own unscripted format label in Ardaban, led by the creators of the hit Food Network series, "Chopped." Shine Latino, a new division of Shine America, is producing and distributing original Spanish-language content to the U.S. and Latin American marketplaces.

The global Shine 360? division builds brands through the leveraging of its intellectual property and by creating integrated marketing opportunities for advertisers. The company has also developed more than 20 groundbreaking original online series on MSN, Yahoo!, Youtube premium channels and other platforms, many produced in partnership with global brands such as Walmart, Toyota, Kraft Foods, Subway and Microsoft. Through Shine Group's distribution arm, Shine International, Shine America distributes its extensive library of programming and formats to more than 150 countries. Visit www.shineamerica.com for further information.

About Kudos
Kudos Film and Television is the U.K.'s most successful and original producer of popular, award-winning scripted television, supplying broadcasters domestically and internationally. Shows include the era-defining "Spooks," "Hustle," "Life on Mars" and "Ashes to Ashes"; successful, returning series "The Hour," "Law & Order: UK" and "M.I. High"; and critically acclaimed miniseries and single films, such as "Occupation" and "We'll Take Manhattan." Current and forthcoming productions include "Utopia" (written by Dennis Kelly for Channel 4), Sky One's "The Smoke" (Lucy Kirkwood) and the Ben Court- and Caroline Ip-penned "Mayday" (BBC One). In 2007, 2010 and 2011, Kudos was voted the U.K.'s most admired independent production company by its peers in Broadcast magazine. Formed in 1992, it has been part of the Shine Group since 2007.

About Imaginary Friends
Imaginary Friends Productions is a U.K. production company founded by Chris Chibnall to create bold, authored mainstream drama. Its first production was the award-winning drama "Broadchurch." Imaginary Friends recently signed a two year first look deal with Kudos.

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