Global Deals For ‘Best Medicine’, The U.S. Version Of ‘Doc Martin’

EXCLUSIVE: A slew of international deals for Best Medicine have closed. Sky has scored UK rights for its channels and NOW streaming service, marking a kind of homecoming for the show, which is based on the hit British drama Doc Martin. We also have news of a raft of other deals for the show, which is on Fox in the U.S. and distributed by Fox Entertainment Global.

There was built-in interest from international buyers given the earlier success of Doc Martin, distributed by All3Media. It sold well internationally and spawned local remakes in France, Greece and other territories.

The Best Medicine deals come after the series was renewed by Fox, and in the wake of the London Screenings where it was being shown to international buyers, and then again at the LA Screenings in May.

Fox Entertainment Global has sold it to Bell and TVA in Canada, as well as a multiple broadcasters and platforms across Europe.

Scandi broadcasters TV4 Sweden and TV2 Norway have landed the show and Talpa Network has it for the Netherlands. In CEE, NBCUniversal has snagged rights, while TV2 has acquired it for Hungary and Pro Plus for Slovenia. Elsewhere, the show has gone to Cosmote TV in Greece, HRT in Croatia, Nos in Portugal and Play Media in Belgium. Yes has acquired it for Israel and Now TV has taken the series in Hong Kong.

The show follows brilliant surgeon Martin Best (Josh Charles), who leaves his prestigious Boston career behind to become the general practitioner in a quaint East Coast fishing town. Beneath his gruff exterior, Martin struggles with a debilitating new phobia that makes intimacy difficult, but the eccentric and tight-knit community may prove to be exactly what he needs. Martin Clunes, the star of the British series, made a special guest appearance as Martin’s father, Dr. Robert.

Season two of Best Medicine will return to the Fox network this fall with a 14-episode run. Having sold the show in a host of territories, we hear Fox Entertainment Global has more deals in the offing for the series, which is produced by Fox Entertainment Studios.

“Best Medicine continues to resonate with broadcasters globally because of its uplifting storytelling and broad audience accessibility,” said Prentiss Fraser, President of Fox Entertainment Global. “The addition of Sky and this rapidly expanding roster of premier international partners demonstrates the powerful global appeal of the series and reinforces the growing demand for feel-good entertainment that delivers both heart and scale.”