The Hunting becomes the highest-rated SBS commission drama
The Hunting, the four-part drama series starring Richard Roxburgh and Asher Keddie, has become the highest-rating SBS commissioned drama.
The announcement:
SBS celebrates Australia’s overwhelming response to The Hunting
Series starring Richard Roxburgh and Asher Keddie set to become SBS’s most successful commissioned drama
Four-part SBS drama series The Hunting, which explores how teenagers traverse the complexities of relationships, identity and sexuality via technology, is set to become SBS’s most successful commissioned drama. Since its premiere on Thursday 1 August, The Hunting has achieved the highest ratings ever for an SBS commissioned drama, its accompanying SBS Learn educational resource is set to become the most successful outreach resource project in SBS Learn history, and the series has captured the attention of broadcasters internationally with rights already secured in six countries.
The Hunting broke records to become the highest rating Australian drama series ever for SBS, achieving a Reach on TV of over 1.7 million Total Individuals and over 4.2 million Chapter Views via SBS On Demand to date.
Ahead of the series launch, SBS partnered with the eSafety Commissioner to produce educational resources for parents and teachers that provide information to young people about how to be safe online.
Available through SBS’s education portal SBS Learn, the materials provide families, carers, teachers and the school community with conversation starters on how to address image sharing and cyber bullying, promoting safe and positive experiences online.
With over 8,500 downloads to date, The Hunting resources are one of the most downloaded SBS Learn educational resource, and is set to become SBS Learn’s most successful outreach resource project.
SBS is also delighted that audiences outside of Australia will soon have the chance to watch the series. Rights have already been sold through UK-based distributor DCD Rights to Channel 5 in the UK, Sky New Zealand, RTE Ireland, CBC in Canada, IVI in Russia and NPO in the Netherlands.
SBS Director of Television and Online Content, Marshall Heald, said:
“The Hunting is a powerful and impactful exploration of online behaviour in our modern digital world. SBS partnered with the talented and experienced team at Closer Productions to bring this compelling series to life. Featuring a high calibre, diverse cast, The Hunting explores some of the most pressing issues of our time and offers a vital portrait of modern, multicultural Australia.
As a public broadcaster, it’s part of our role to make shows that challenge audience perceptions and drive national conversation around difficult issues. We’re thrilled that The Hunting has received such an overwhelming response from the public since premiere.”
The Hunting aired its fourth and final episode on SBS on Thursday 22 August and the full series is currently available on SBS On Demand. Starring Asher Keddie (Offspring, The Cry) and Richard Roxburgh (Rake, Hacksaw Ridge), The Hunting intimately and dramatically imagines the lives of four teenagers, their teachers and families throughout the lead up, revelation and aftermath of a nude teen photo scandal.
The Hunting is created by Sophie Hyde (Animals, 52 Tuesdays) and Matthew Cormack (52 Tuesdays, F*!#ing Adelaide), directed by Ana Kokkinos (Mustangs FC, Seven Types of Ambiguity) and Sophie Hyde, and produced by Rebecca Summerton (Animals, F*!#ing Adelaide), Sophie Hyde and Lisa Scott (Pine Gap, Janet King).
The series is written by Matthew Cormack and Niki Aken (The Secret Daughter, Janet King), executive produced by Sue Masters (SBS). Director of Photography is Bonnie Elliott (Palm Beach, Romper Stomper) and Editor is Bryan Mason (Animals, 52 Tuesdays).
The Hunting is a Closer Productions production for SBS, with major production investment from SBS and Screen Australia, in association with the South Australian Film Corporation. International sales are handled by DCD Rights.
Source: SBS media release
The big names may have been Keddie and Roxburgh. But the ‘stars’ were the kids who lay at the centre of the drama.
Why did the last episode fall so disasterously from the earlier highs???
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