ITV Studios Sells Dramas and Scripted Formats Amid Sale of Its Media Arm

Andrea Riseborough Heads to the Moon, “Sound” Heads to Estonia, and Britain’s Beloved Natural History Host Returns to Tell More Fish Stories. ITV Studios kicked off the Mipcom market in Cannes on Monday morning with a breakfast gathering to showcase an extensive lineup of new and returning scripted series

Andrea Riseborough heads to the moon, The Voice heads to Estonia and Britain's much-loved natural history host returns to tell more fish stories.

ITV Studios kicked off the Mipcom market in Cannes on Monday morning with a breakfast gathering to showcase its extensive line-up of new and returning scripted and unscripted series.

Ruth Berry, head of global partnerships for ITV Studios and its digital content arm Zoo 55, noted that ITV Studios represented no less than 11 major new formats at this year's Mipcom gathering - a feat amid a global slump in traditional series launches and general disruption among major production groups. Related Stories 'Pete' and 'It's All His Fault' Among the Winners of the Inaugural Eastersel Disability Arts and Culture Awards

"We're very positive about what it means for both studios to evolve," Barry told a group of reporters Monday morning. Asked by Variety whether the M&A fever sweeping the global content market has affected ITV's performance, Barry didn't hesitate: “In a word, no,” he said, referring to the ambitious slate. "Absolute Guardians," he said of ITV's lineup. Popular in Variety

Mike Beale, managing director of creative networks at ITV Studios, emphasized that the company was "pairing broadcasters and streamers to co-run" new programs, opening up opportunities for new formats.

ITV itself is in the process of being split into two separate companies. NBCUniversal's Sky is buying ITV's broadcast and digital platform, while ITV Studios will remain an independent entity, although acquisition rumors have not stopped. With the global success of Love Island, ITV Studios is in a strong position to shape these days. Barry noted that the US version of the series ranks as the most-watched show on broadcaster NBCUniversal's Peacock.

Among the projects pushed by ITV Studios on Monday was the return of "River Monsters" host Jeremy Weed in a video podcast series in which he recounts the stories of his freshwater exploits. "Fish On! With Jeremy Wade" launches October 20th on Patreon and via The "River Monsters" series, which premiered in 2009 on Cable Planet Animal, found a new life in social networks with young viewers.

"You hear that young people don't want to watch long content — that's not true," Barry said, referring to the average viewing time of 90-minute episodes of "River Monsters" on YouTube.

Other shows highlighted at the session include "The First Woman," in which Riseborough stars as the first woman to walk on the moon — and the first woman to disappear on the moon's surface; and "Number 10," a soapy behind-the-scenes look at the real-life personal and political pressures that surround the occupants of 10 Downing Street.

Series 10 creator Steven Moffat was on hand to add his take on the show. "Every other country is run from a big palace or a big building - ours is run from a house in a little old street with a big black door," he joked.

Other news shared in the one-hour session:

(Image: "Fish On!" hosted by Jeremy Wade)