New dollars for docs

Carlton International Media has partnered with PBS and the CPB to create a US$20 million fund for copros over the next three years. Carlton contributed $10 million, with PBS and CPB each contributing $5 million, in an effort that will serve indie producers in the U.S. and the U.K., as well as PBS stations. The first project to benefit from the fund is a TV mystery entitled Skin Walkers, produced by Robert Redford's Santa Monica-based prodco Wildwood Enterprises. According to Rupert Dilnott-Cooper, CEO of CIM in London, 'The two program types absolutely key at the moment are drama and documentaries... Sometimes [docs] are the easiest to do, in terms of international carriage. PBS has a very good track record in that area.'