Channel 4 still chasing Black Mirror rights from Endemol Shine
UK broadcaster Channel 4 is reportedly still negotiating for the rights to Charlie Brooker’s Twilight Zone for the digital age Black Mirror despite having aired it for its first two seasons.
Netflix snapped up the third series of the show in September for $40m, commissioning 12 new episodes from Endemol UK production unit House of Tomorrow. Upon the deal Netflix is looking to bring the show to a global audience.
However, Channel 4, the previous rights owner was offered “first-look rights to new episodes in the UK”.
The Guardian questioned the working relationship between C4 and Endemol. Jay Hunt, Channel 4’s chief creative officer denied that it had ceased work with Endemol, stating: “Some of our biggest shows are with Shine Endemol. We haven’t suspended working with them.”
Similarly an Endemol spokesperson told the Guardian: “We are still in discussions with Channel 4 around Black Mirror in the UK, to comment on these would be commercially sensitive.”
Regardless, the future of Black Mirror’s licensing in the UK has been in the balance since last September, with the duration of the negotiations at least hinting at a clash.