On-demand service Cirkus signs Endemol deal

‘Best of British’ on-demand service Cirkus has acquired BBC dramas Peaky Blinders and Death Comes to Pemberley as part of a wide-ranging output deal with Endemol.

The agreement gives Cirkus access to Endemol’s drama, comedy and entertainment shows and includes the upcoming BBC World War I drama The Ark, plus library shows such as Prisoner’s Wives, Public Enemies and Secret Diary of a Call Girl.

Cirkus already has similar deals in place with ITV Studios Global Entertainment, BBC Worldwide and All3Media International. The service launched last year.

“This deal enormously strengthens our programme offering building on the unrivalled range and depth of the best of British TV available to Cirkus,” said Cirkus co-founder Hugh Williams. “Endemol’s significant investment in new programmes, particularly drama, means that Cirkus can now provide a greater range of top British titles on-demand than anyone else.”

Cathy Payne, CEO of Endemol’s sales arm Endemol Worldwide Distribution, said Cirkus would become an “increasingly important vehicle for the international distribution of British television programmes and we’re looking forward to sharing in its success”.

Williams negotiated the deal with EWD’s sales director, Nordics, Holly Winder and executive director, Europe Mark Lawrence.