Warner Bros. Discovery Acquires ‘Days That Shocked The World’ Docuseries – EMEA Deal

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has acquired the rights to broadcast the documentary series Days That Shocked The World across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), with initial broadcasts scheduled to coincide with significant anniversaries of major global disasters.

The series, produced by Britespark Films, examines pivotal events including the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, the Chernobyl disaster, and the September 11th attacks. WBD intends to air the specials on its channels around the 15th, 40th, and 25th anniversaries of these events respectively, beginning with the Fukushima edition in March. The programs will also be available for streaming on discovery+ and HBO Max in select markets, as HBO Max continues its expansion across Europe, including a planned rollout in the UK.

According to BossaNova Media, the distributor for Days That Shocked The World, the series utilizes eyewitness accounts and archival footage to reconstruct these disasters in one- or two-part anniversary specials. The acquisition by WBD follows a recent purchase by Sky New Zealand.

BossaNova Media is currently showcasing its catalog at the London TV Screenings. The company also recently brokered a deal for Ed Gein: Original Psycho, a documentary utilizing generative AI to recreate the interrogation of serial killer Ed Gein, with Hearst Networks and DPG.

Paul Heaney, head of BossaNova Media, emphasized the appeal of stories with broad international relevance. “Getting this calibre of channels onboard now demonstrates the quality of the producers we’re working with, like Britespark. Stories with global resonance that also work locally are the sweet spot for any distributor. Days That Shocked the World has clear global resonance — from 9/11 and Chernobyl to the Concorde crash and Fukushima — events that continue to shape lives today,” Heaney stated.