MEDIA RELEASE: Cineflix Rights closes multiple deals for Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

October 12, 2021

MIPCOM 2021: Cineflix Rights has closed multiple deals for its blue-chip science and history show Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer. International broadcasters taking the series include VRT (Belgium), SVT (Sweden), YLE (Finland), Movistar (Spain), Radio-Canada, SBS (Australia), BBC Poland, and Kan (Israel).

Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer (4X60’, Nutopia for PBS US and BBC UK)reveals the little-known stories of the innovations in science and medicine that have doubled the human lifespan in less than a century and celebrates the unsung heroes of public health who believed change was possible and acted on it. Best-selling author Steven Johnson (The Ghost Map, How We Got to Now) along with historian and broadcaster David Olusoga (Civilisations, Black and British: A Forgotten History) combine their expertise to guide viewers through 300 years of medical innovation and go behind the scenes of modern medicine to meet the leading health experts who are tackling Covid-19 and other current public health threats. The series has been shortlisted in the Science and Technology category at the AIB Awards 2021.

Richard Life, Head of Acquisitions, Cineflix Rights, who acquired the series from Nutopia for international distribution said: “The success of Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer with international buyers comes down to its winning combination of the history and science of extraordinary medical breakthroughs with Nutopia’s exceptionally high production calibre. Increasing our health and longevity is a major concern for many of us and these sales reflect how the series is the perfect programme for our times.”

The deals were brokered by Sandra Piha, SVP, Sales, Pan-Regional, UK, Eire, and Scandinavia (SVT, YLE); Chris Bluett, SVP, Sales, Asia Pacific, and Benelux (VRT, SBS); Meghan Baxter, Senior Sales Executive, OTT, Inflight, Non-Theatric, Footage, and Home Entertainment and Pablo Salzman, Business Development, French Canada (Radio-Canada); Charo Penedo, acting VP Sales, France, Italy, Iberia, and Latin America (Movistar); and Kai Rowley, acting VP, Sales, Africa, CEE, Middle East, and Southern Mediterranean (Kan, BBC Poland).

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Media contact: Mark Ogle at OH Communications (for Cineflix Rights):
E: mark@ohcommunications.co.uk / +44 (0) 7789 981561

About Cineflix Rights 
Cineflix Rights is the UK’s largest independent TV content distributor for broadcasters and streamers worldwide with a catalogue of premium scripted series and movies as well as high quality factual programming from some of the world’s most creative producers. Established in 2002, Cineflix Rights is based in London, and is part of the Cineflix Media group of companies.

About Nutopia
Nutopia is known for creating award-winning, factual series on a global scale, and a new genre of television, the “mega-doc,” which combines epic cinematography with action-driven drama or high-end documentary and A-list talent. The company, which was founded in 2008 by Jane Root, former President of Discovery Channel US and Controller of BBC2, and co-founder of Wall to Wall TV, has become synonymous with creating high-quality, notable content for buyers that include Netflix, Disney+, CNN, National Geographic, BBC, PBS, HBO Max, and A+E Networks. Recent projects include “Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth” for Disney+ and Nat Geo’s Shark Fest; “Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer” for PBS; “A World of Calm” for HBO Max, “Babies” for Netflix, and Emmy Award-nominated “The World According to Jeff Goldblum.” Nutopia also produced, the much-honored National Geographic series “One Strange Rock” Emmy Award-winning series “How We Got to Now” and “America: The Story of US.” Upcoming projects include “Limitless,” with Chris Hemsworth, and “Welcome to Earth” with Will Smith for Disney+.