Foxtel’s A&E channel has confirmed the commissioning of the new local production of Pawn Stars Australia, based on the A+E Networks® real-life character franchise and hit US cable series Pawn Stars.
Foxtel’s local production of Pawn Stars Australia will bring viewers inside the doors of locally run pawnshops, where the owners buy and sell collectible, unusual and historically significant items.
A+E Networks® and Pawn Stars producer, Leftfield Pictures (part of Leftfield Entertainment, an ITV Studios company) have partnered to roll out the new local production of Pawn Stars.
The announcement was made today by Foxtel’s A&E General Manager Jim Buchan, Sean Cohan, Executive Vice President, International, A+E Networks and Brent Montgomery, CEO of Leftfield Entertainment and Executive Producer, Pawn Stars.
“Our formats have gone from strength-to-strength, as we continue to build momentum internationally in this area of business. Leftfield Pictures has been a strong partner over the years, and it is thanks to their expertise and eye for creating shows that we have a strong real-life, character-driven series such as Pawn Stars, that can be embraced by audiences on a global level,” said Cohan.
Said Montgomery, “We’re obviously thrilled with these announcements, which speak to the global audience’s embrace of the ‘hidden treasures’ concept inherent in Pawn Stars, as well as the characters that embody the ways in which these kinds of transactions occur in different regions of the world. It is our goal to maintain the series’ humour and authenticity as we produce the local format for Australia. The continents and countries may be different, but we’ve learned that compelling characters helping everyday people find the value in their most prized possessions is an exciting, universal experience.”
Since its launch in February 2012, Foxtel’s A&E channel is the most-watched factual entertainment channel. Helping launch the channel,Pawn Stars is now one of the highest rating programs on the channel.
A&E General Manager, Jim Buchan said: “A great part of our success with the A&E channel brand has been based on the Pawn Stars and associated series, so we’re really excited to be finally working with the original producers Leftfield having also identified that Australia has a thriving trading pawn community. Knowing that our viewers really love these shows a local example will really develop our local relevance and appreciation of these real life people”.
Pawn Stars Australia will follow the day to day lives of Happy Hockers, a chain of pawn shops based in Sydney. Pawn Stars Australia will air on A&E in 2015.
