Dealmakers


KEITH LE GOY President, Sony Pictures Television International Distribution


K CAREER


2006-2011 Takes over as head of SPT’s international sales divisions 2003 Becomes senior vice-president and managing director, Latin America, at SPT 1999 Joins SPT as senior vice-president, European distribution, based in London 1996-1999 Progresses through the ranks at Walt Disney Company 1992-1996 Works at National Magazine Company in the UK Previously Publisher, Media Week


eith Le Goy has run Sony Pic- tures Television International Distribution’s sales arm for the


past five years. During that time, he has overseen plenty of high-profile shows, but probably none to compare with Pan Am, the new 1960s-set series aboard the iconic American airline that represented the birth of luxury air travel and the ‘Jet Age’. By the time of its debut on ABC


on 25 September, it had already sold to more than 100 territories, including BBC2 in the UK, TF1 France, Canal Plus Spain, Imagica Japan, Nine Network Australia and Sony Entertainment Television for pan-Latin America. With producer Jack Orman, whose


credits include ER and JAG, on board, and Christina Ricci heading a star- studded cast, Le Goy says Pan Am has struck a real chord with international buyers. “The dawn of jet travel was a very seductive, romantic and thrilling age,” he says. “Since it took off at the LA Screenings in May, Pan Am has ignited phenomenal interest. Buyers and programmers love the global storylines and fantastic characters. The stories, locations and characters are endless, and the demographic Pan Am will captivate is an advertiser’s dream.”


Buyer interest Buyers share Le Goy’s excitement. Miguel Salvat, programme director at Canal+ Spain, says: “There are several reasons why I bought the series. The first is Thomas Schlamme. He is the executive producer and the director of the pilot at least, which is all I have seen of the series so far, and his track record is great. Series of his such as Studio 60, The West Wing and Life On Mars have all played very successfully on Canal+ Spain”. In an echo of Le Goy’s comments,


Salvat also lauds the idea of the 1960s setting: “It was the decade of the cold war, great fashion and women’s lib. All these will be explored through the professional and personal lives of the pilots and stewardesses.” The global appeal of the show is


underlined by SPT’s success in selling


‘Empowering storylines, complex characters and identifiable stars


make powerful dramas’ Keith Le Goy


40 | Broadcast | 30 September 2011


Pan Am The style and execution of Pan Unforgettable


it to Japan’s Imagica channel. Channel head Akira Ito, who did the deal with Angel Orengo, SVP, distribution, Asia Pacific, plans to air it in March 2012. He describes it as “a very attractive and sexy show”, adding: “I feel this polished title will be a perfect start for our new channel”. Closer to home, Le Goy’s team pulled


off a surprise deal when Stuart Baxter, SEVP, distribution, EMEA, sold it to BBC2. “Pan Am is a breath of fresh air,” enthuses Sue Deeks, head of pro- gramme acquisition at the BBC. “A fun, colourful and stylish drama, it captures the romance, excitement and optimism of air travel in the 1960s, when being an air hostess was the most glamorous occupation you could possibly have. “These women were college edu-


cated, spoke foreign languages and travelled the world at a time when flying was a privilege afforded to the very few. And viewers will discover that their job went far beyond serving meals and drinks.”


Am has drawn inevitable comparisons with Mad Men. While Schlamme has dismissed this, there’s no question that the 1950s and 1960s are back in vogue – with FME lining up a drama about Le Mans and Starz Media Worldwide Distribution (SMWD) coming to MipCom with Magic City, a series that takes us back to Miami Beach in 1959, when it was home to gangsters, strippers, CIA agents, drug dealers and sym- pathisers on both sides of the revolu- tion in Cuba. For Le Goy, this kind of activity


is indicative of the fact that there is more money and more confidence in the international distribution market after the downturn. After a few years of focusing on comedy and factual titles, SPT has an extensive drama slate for this year’s MipCom. Aside from Pan Am, SPT comes to Cannes with a new version of Charlie’s Angels and Unforgettable, a series about a female ex-cop with a photo- graphic memory. Le Goy, whose sales team has sold


all three titles to CTV Canada, and Charlie’s Angels to Channel 4, says interest in SPT’s drama slate is at an all-time high. “Broadcasters responded with great enthusiasm to our slate at the LA Screenings and rec- ognise that empowering storylines, complex characters and identifiable stars make powerful dramas that will draw big audiences for them.”


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