Media Release

US Network TBS secures rights to TNT Comedy Original Arthur’s Law

London, 10 January 2019 – The unlucky Arthur Ahnepol is taking over the US: TBS, Turner’s comedy network in the US, has secured the rights of Arthur’s Law (Arthurs Gesetz), which is the first fictional Original Production from Turner Germany’s TNT Comedy. This includes both the format production as well as the broadcast of the original with English subtitles. TBS is one of the top 5 US cable networks and the #1 comedy network among the key 18-49 demographic, with Original Productions such as Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, The Last O.G. and Final Space.

Hannes Heyelmann, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Turner Central and Eastern Europe and responsible for the international strategy of the Turner Original Productions said: “TBS is available in over 90 million households in the US. Arthur’s Law will be the first German series that is broadcast in the original version with English subtitles on one of the top US cable networks. The strong interest in both the format as well as the original validates our storytelling strategy. The tale of our anti-hero Arthur can be applied universally, and we are looking forward to seeing how TBS will transport the world of Arthur’s Law to the US.”

The unemployed Arthur Ahnepol (Jan Josef Liefers) ekes out a bleak existence. Drawn from the strains of his unhappy marriage and bored to death, he makes a morbid plan: he wants his obnoxious wife to die. With the money from the life insurance there’s no obstacle for a restart with his beloved mistress. But an unwritten law dominates the life of the unlucky fellow: every problem solved by Arthur has a far worse effect. And so, he sets off an avalanche of disastrous events.

Most recently, Arthur’s Law was nominated for awards in two categories, including ‘Best Comedy Series’ by the German Television Award ‘Deutscher Fernsehpreis’. In Arthur’s Law Martina Gedeck (The Lives of Others) and Nora Tschirner (Rabbit Without Ears, Tatort) star alongside Liefers (Tatort) in leading roles. Further supporting actors in the series include Ronald Kukulies (The Valley), Cristina do Rego (Pastewka, Doctor’s Diary), and Robert Gallinowski (Naked Among Wolves). The series is directed by Christian Zübert (Lommbock), who has won multiple awards as a writer and director (including a Grimme Award for Best Director for Tatort: Nie wieder frei sein). Moritz von der Groeben and Nataly Kudiabor from good friends are executive producers, as well as Hannes Heyelmann and Anke Greifeneder, who is also head of the editorial board, on the broadcaster’s side. Benjamin Gutsche is responsible for the scripts as head author supported by Ceylan Yildirim and Sebastian Bleyl, and Ngo The Chau for the cinematography (awards include a Deutscher Fernsehpreis for Tatort: Scheherazade and Zum Sterben zu früh). Arthur’s Law was promoted by FilmFernsehFonds Bayern.

-ENDS-

Contact
Ben Gold, Corporate Communications Manager, International: +44 20 7693 2151, ben.gold@turner.com

About Turner International
Turner International is an entertainment, sports and news company that creates premium content and delivers exceptional experiences to fans whenever and wherever they consume content. It operates versions of core Turner brands, including CNN, TNT, Cartoon Network, Boomerang and TCM Turner Classic Movies, as well as country- and region-specific networks and businesses in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. It manages the business of Pay- and Free-TV-channels, as well as Internet-based services, and oversees commercial partnerships with various third-party media ventures; it teams with Warner Bros. and HBO to leverage WarnerMedia’s global reach. Turner International operates 178 channels showcasing 47 brands in 34 languages in over 200 countries. Turner International is a WarnerMedia company.