International Buyers Snap Up Canadian Drama “Yaga” Ahead of Global Release

HBO Max has secured rights to stream “Yaga” across Europe, excluding the United Kingdom and Ireland. Sky New Zealand and Foxtel have acquired the series for New Zealand and Australia, respectively. In the United States, AMC Global Media obtained the broadcast window, while Sky will air the series in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The acquisitions follow a coordinated sales effort by Sphere Abacus, which positioned the series for multiple territories simultaneously.

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“Yaga” is a Canadian drama produced by Bell Media-owned Crave in partnership with Blink49 Studios and Front Street Media. The series adapts playwright Kat Sadler’s stage work that reimagines the Slavic myth of Baba Yaga as a contemporary mystery thriller. Sphere Abacus, Bell Media’s UK-based sales house, markets the series in two formats: a four-part hour-long version and an eight-part half-hour version.

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Kat Sadler serves as writer and showrunner, guiding the narrative that follows private investigator Rapp (played by Noah Reid) as he investigates the disappearance of a young heir to a powerful fishery. The cast includes Hudson Williams, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Clark Backo, supported by Sheila McCarthy, Megan Follows, Ezra Franky, Patrick Gilmore, Katharine Isabelle, Hiro Kanagawa, Emilija Baranac, Georgia Acken, Anisa Harris, and Sam Krochmal. Co-directors David Frazee and Rachel Talalay helm the production, while executive producers Mackenzie Donaldson, Andrew Miller, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Charles Cooper oversee development.

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Sphere Abacus promotes both the four-hour and eight-half-hour configurations to accommodate differing broadcaster preferences. This dual-format approach enables buyers to select the version that best fits their scheduling models, enhancing the series’ appeal across diverse markets.

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Hana Palmer, Head of Sales at Sphere Abacus, described the buyer response as “fantastic” and highlighted the series’ “genre-defying, high-energy production” coupled with “the exceptional credentials of Bell Media, Canada’s premier media and content company.” She indicated that the company anticipates announcing additional global sales in the coming weeks.

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> “We’re seeing a fantastic response across major territories for this unique series. Yaga is a brilliant example of a genre-defying, high-energy production – with an incredible cast. Combine these attributes with the exceptional credentials of Bell Media, Canada’s premier media and content company, we look forward to announcing further global sales in the weeks to come.” — Hana Palmer, Head of Sales, Sphere Abacus

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Sphere Abacus has signaled that further distribution agreements are forthcoming, suggesting that additional broadcasters in untapped regions may acquire “Yaga” before its premiere. The series is positioned for a staggered international rollout, with each buyer preparing localized marketing strategies to capitalize on the show’s myth-inspired premise and thriller elements.

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