Deal Includes Frankie Drake Concert Special, A Co-Production from Ovation, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Shaftesbury
Ovation TV, America’s only arts network, has acquired the U.S. broadcast rights for the fourth season of Frankie Drake Mysteries from DCD Rights. As part of the network’s Mystery Alley programming block, the deal includes the fourth season (10×60’) of the drama series as well as a musical special titled Frankie Drake Mysteries: Music at Midnight (1×60’) featuring the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO). The announcement was made today by Scott Woodward, EVP Programming and Production, Ovation.
Set in 1920s Toronto, the series follows the adventures of Frankie Drake (Lauren Lee Smith) and her partner Trudy Clarke (Chantel Riley) at Drake Private Detectives, the city’s only all-female detective agency, as they find themselves fighting crime in the age of flyboys, gangsters, rumrunners, and speakeasies. Season four of Frankie Drake Mysteries opens with our intrepid detectives and their best gal pals, Mary Shaw (Rebecca Liddiard) and Flo Chakowitz (Sharron Matthews), traipsing through the woods on a scavenger hunt that quickly turns deadly. From the wilderness to the world of high society, from an underground cabaret to a candy factory, Frankie and Trudy investigate murders, kidnappings, heists, and poisonings. Using her position as a morality officer, Mary’s able to snoop through police files and be privy to non-civilian discussions, while Flo lends a hand with autopsy reports, science experiments, and her newly acquired medical skills.
Frankie Drake Mysteries: Music at Midnight is a coproduction from Ovation TV, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO), and Shaftesbury featuring performances from series stars Chantel Riley and Sharron Matthews alongside series composer Robert Carli and members of the TSO. A concert event that takes place on the set of Frankie Drake Mysteries, the special gives fans of the series the opportunity to see and hear something different and unexpected. Filmed during COVID-19 and following strict safety protocols, Frankie Drake Mysteries: Music at Midnight was a way to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to live performance and showcase Frankie Drake Mysteries and the TSO’s ability to adapt and expand through creative collaborations.
“Having the Toronto Symphony Orchestra perform on the Frankie Drake set was an amazing opportunity to combine Ovation’s mission of celebrating artistic expression with a fan-favorite drama series,” stated Woodward. “Mixing the art of storytelling with the art of music is the perfect blend of programming that Ovation is always looking to share with our audience.”
International distributor Nicky Davies Williams, CEO, DCD Rights added, “A huge hit with viewers around the world, we are delighted that Frankie Drake Mysteries will continue to be broadcast on Ovation, one of the world’s foremost arts and entertainment networks.”
Both the special and the fourth season will air this fall.
About OVATION TV America’s Only Arts Network
As an independent television, production, and digital media company, OVATION TV has an unparalleled commitment to the arts, culture, and captivating entertainment. Showcasing a lineup of critically-acclaimed premium dramas, specials, documentaries, and iconic films, OVATION TV salutes innovative storytelling with popular programming that includes Inside the Actors Studio, Murdoch Mysteries, Riviera, Frankie Drake Mysteries, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, The Fall, Luther, Midsomer Murders, Landscape Artist of the Year, Grand Designs, Amazing Hotels, Chasing the Sun, and Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. Ovation also powers JOURNY, the dedicated streaming service where art, culture, and travel intersect. The company has provided more than $15M in contributions and in-kind support to arts institutions and arts education. Its signature advocacy platform, STAND FOR THE ARTS, includes a coalition of over 130 arts organizations, cultural institutions, and arts leaders throughout the country raising awareness about art’s positive impact, protecting access for everyone, and encouraging action on behalf of the arts. OVATION TV is available on major providers via cable, satellite, and telco systems including Comcast Cable/Xfinity, DIRECTV, AT&T TV, SPECTRUM, Verizon FiOS, as well as on-demand. You can follow OVATION TV on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, OvationTV.com, and through our App, OVATION NOW.
About DCD
DCD Rights is one of the UK’s leading independent television programming distributors representing 3,200 hours of content across a wide range of genres, including drama, factual entertainment, lifestyle, music, documentary programming, and formats. DCD Rights’ catalogue contains shows from top international producers/directors and independent producers and also features classic and cutting-edge concerts. An independent for more than 30 years, the company formerly named NBDtv became part of production and distribution group DCD Media plc in 2006. Find out more on www.dcdrights.com.