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´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide Australia has completed a host of sales in New Zealand with broadcasters acquiring programs as diverse as action-packed contemporary drama and landmark natural history, food, lifestyle and children's though to classic comedy and hard-hitting factual.

Action-packed Iraq war thriller Strike Back (6x44') and natural history blockbuster Life (10x50') have been acquired as part of a deal with Prime Television. This deal also sees the return of Top Gear (series 15 7x50' and series 16 7x50') to Prime along with ground-breaking science documentary How the Earth Made Us (5x50') and explosive rock documentary Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful (1x80').

National broadcaster TVNZ has acquired a mix of contemporary and period drama including the scandalous Secret Diaries of Anne Lister (1x90') which chronicles the tales of a prominent 19th Century female industrialist and lesbian Anne Lister, the harrowing story behind the Ipswich murders of 2006, Five Daughters (3x50') and Married Single Other (6x50') a modern take on the meaning of 'happily ever after'.

TVNZ has also acquired a new documentary series on the domestication of wild animals Fatal Attractions (3x50') and factual science series, Richard Hammond's Invisible Worlds (3x60').

C4 have snapped up the second series of the highly successful Gen Y superhero drama Misfits (6x50') which is in production now.

Nickelodeon NZ offer something for the kids with the latest instalment of popular children's sci-fi adventures series Sarah Jane Adventures series 4 (12x30') and the purchase of all series and specials of much-loved children's series Charlie and Lola.

In further deals, the Documentary Channel has acquired three powerful factual pieces Ghandi (3x50'), The Love of Money (3x60') and Simon Schama's Power of Art (8x50'). The Living Channel has purchased Rivers with Griff Rhys Jones (5x60'), Raymond Blanc's Kitchen Secrets (8x30') and contemporary cooking show Rude Boy Food (10x25') and Country99TV will present reality farming series Lambing Live (5x60').

"This diversity really highlights the depth of the catalogue that ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide draws on as well as its wide appeal to New Zealand audiences," commented Robyn Campbell, Sales Manager New Zealand, on the recent sales.

Fiona Bickerstaff