MIPCOM Briefs: ITV Sells NBC’s ‘Prime Suspect’ To 30 Territories; Overseas Buyers Get ‘Happily Divorced’

The international TV market got underway in Cannes this morning with a flurry of announcements. Here are a few titbits:

— ITV Studios Global Entertainment, the TV distribution arm of the Brit broadcaster, has sold the new NBC version of Prime Suspect to over 30 territories worldwide. This is despite the show teetering on the verge of cancellation in the U.S. ITV, which co-produced the remake with Universal Media Studios, has licensed the Maria Bello vehicle to broadcasters including Nine (Australia), TVNZ (New Zealand) and TV3 (Ireland). Prime Suspect drew an underwhelming 1.5 18-49 rating in its second week on NBC. My colleague Nellie Andreeva reports that NBC’s chief Bob Greenblatt is willing to give the struggling show, which got mostly positive reviews, a bit more time.

— Meanwhile Shine International, the TV distribution arm of News Corp’s Shine Group, has licensed more than 200 hours of programming to Discovery Networks Latin America/US Hispanic. It’s the biggest commission Shine has brokered with DLA/USH to date, and includes cooking competition show MasterChef, game show The Biggest Loser, and unscripted format One Born Every Minute.

— Endemol has sold TV Land sitcom Happily Divorced as well as yet-to-premiere comedy The Exes to broadcasters in Europe, Canada, Latin America, New Zealand and Africa. Fran Drescher’s sitcom Happily Divorced did so well for TV Land that a second-series renewal was a given. Drescher will be in Cannes promoting the show. The Exes, about three men sharing an apartment whose landlady happens to be their divorce lawyer, will premiere on TV Land in November.

— Speaking of Latin America, Lionsgate has formed Lionsgate-Tisa Television International to sell TV shows including Mad Men and Weeds, plus its movies, throughout the territory. Maryann Pasante, former MGM Latin American executive, will run the joint venture.