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Major drama, natural history and factual titles make up a swathe of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Worldwide content licensed to New Zealand broadcasters in recent weeks.

Landmark natural history series South Pacific (6 x 50'), much of which was filmed in and around New Zealand, will air on TVNZ. The national broadcaster has acquired two other major productions from the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's renowned Natural History Unit; Yellowstone (3 x 50'), about the national park that is one of the world's last great wildernesses, and Nature's Great Events, (6 x 50') an eyewitness account of the dramatic wildlife stories behind the planet's most breathtaking natural events.

Acclaimed British actors Hugh Bonneville and Janet McTeer star in new detective thriller Hunter, (2 x 50') also acquired by TVNZ, while Freefall, (1 x 90' from Origin Pictures) is a dramatic interpretation of the economic crisis and its effect on ordinary Londoners, and comes from award-winning writer Dominic Savage.

The first series of Top Gear Australia (8 x 50'), a Freehand Production for SBS and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Worldwide, will join its UK counterpart at NZ's home of Top Gear, Prime Television.

Further acquisitions from the network include new drama Heart and Soul (6 x 50'), starring Neil Pearson and Sarah Lancashire, about the rivalry between two British village choirs, as well as the much -anticipated upcoming Doctor Who specials – The Waters of Mars (1x 60') and the as-yet unnamed Christmas 2009 specials. Celebrated chef Rick Stein's culinary journey around South-East Asia – Rick Stein’s Far Eastern Odyssey (6 x 60' from Denham Productions) – will also air on Prime.

A further 247 hours of content from ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Worldwide has sold in to New Zealand's Living Channel and its sister network Food TV, including the NZ premieres of quality titles such as Celebrity Fantasy ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖs, Rhodes Across The Caribbean and Eating In The Sun.

"This is a terrific range of content that displays the diversity and appeal of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Worldwide's catalogue" said Robyn Campbell, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Worldwide Australia's Sales Manager, NZ. "I know it will appeal to audiences all over New Zealand."

Louise Alley