The French television production and distribution company, Banijay, is about to redouble its efforts in the premium docs sector with the launch of DSP Films. They have acquired the talents of Graeme McAulay – who has previously been EP of the Netflix series Missing: Dead or Alive – to lead the project. Missing: Dead or Alive is a true crime docuseries that has entered the streamer’s U.S. Top 10 last week, along with Channel 4’s BAFTA-nominated Jeremy Kyle Show: Death On Daytime.
The focus of DSP Films’ productions will be directed towards premium docs for both OTT platforms and traditional broadcasters. This announcement made by Banijay closely follows Freemantle’s move to open a similar label Undeniable, helmed by Global Head of Documentaries Mandy Chang. It is apparent that this is a time of great interest by big production houses for high-quality unscripted content.
McAulay is expected to join DSP Films next month and will report directly to Managing Director Donna Clark, whose previous productions include popular factual and specialist factual programming such as Interior Design Masters and The Big Steam Adventure.
Clark welcomes the new EP, stating “DSP has long been synonymous with high quality documentaries, so re-igniting this focus with Graeme at the helm makes enormous sense as we continue to grow”. On his part, McAulay said that the “opportunity to lead a new creative label building on the world-class film-making heritage of DSP was just too good to miss.”
Banijay’s 62 million dollars investment comes directly from its UK Growth Fund, which was also previously used to acquire stakes in new drama indie Conker Pictures and Chloe producer Mam Tor, as well as securing creative deals with the Oscar winning director Kevin Macdonald and Chris Sussman, former Netflix commissioner.
Photo Credits: Pixabay
