EXCLUSIVE: BET+ has boarded buzzy upcoming UK couples series In Love & Toxic: Blue Therapy.
The deal gives the Black culture streamer U.S. rights to the show, which debuts on E4 in the UK on October 5 and comes from Luti Media and Trend Cntrl.
Distributor All3Media International has also struck a continent-wide deal with Prime Video Africa for the show in which is based on the viral YouTube series Blue Therapy.
That series launched in 2021 and averaged over two million views per episode across 15 territories, including the UK, U.S. and South Africa. It was named “the most explosive show of the year” in one of several glowing reviews before E4, Channel 4’s younger skewing sibling net, ordered a full TV series adaptation.
The new show will explore the complex modern relationships of five young, diverse and aspirational couples from a a luxurious, idyllic country house where they meet with relationship coaches to discuss conflicts in their partnerships surrounding topics including race and interracial relationships, class, children, careers and gender role expectations.
The order is part of Channel 4 and Motion Content Group’s Diverse Indies Fund, to boost commissions from small- and medium-sized, ethnically diverse-led production companies. Luti Media will produce with Trend Centrl and Motion Group. All3Media International is selling the tape and also handles format rights.
Luti Fagbenle, Executive Producer said “In Love & Toxic: Blue Therapyrepresents everything Luti Media is – bold, aspirational and innovative. The original Blue Therapy YouTube series was a global online sensation and demonstrated the international appeal of stories from black British culture. Now, through our partnership with All3Media International I am thrilled that this bigger and bolder version of Blue Therapy is will reached audiences around the world through major platforms in BET and Prime Video.”
Rachel Job, SVP Non-Scripted Content at All3Media International, added: “Addictive, glamorous and thought-provoking, In Love & Toxic: Blue Therapy is set to become a global television obsession.”