Drive, the production-funding and distribution agency, today announces the acquisition of its documentary series ‘Lost Worlds: Deeper into the Black Sea’ by Channel 4-owned channel More4.

‘Lost Worlds: Deeper into the Black Sea’ (2 x 60’) captures the remarkable maritime discovery of an ancient ‘shipwreck graveyard’, including the wreck of 2,400-year-old Greek ship thought to be the oldest intact shipwreck ever found.

The series was shot in 4K over three years using the latest deep-sea underwater technology by Bafta-winning documentary filmmakers David Belton and Andy Byatt (‘The Blue Planet’) from Black Sea Films.

Discovery Channel in the US has also picked up the series, which will be versioned into a 2-hour special to premiere on Science Channel in the United States. Meanwhile, the show has also been acquired by global factual SVOD service CuriosityStream.

‘Lost Worlds: Deeper into the Black Sea’ follows the Black Sea Marine Archaeology Project (MAP), the world’s biggest ever maritime archaeological expedition, led by British Professor Jon Adams, which set out to investigate the changes in the ancient environment of the Black Sea region. During the expedition, the team discovered dozens of remarkably preserved ships from the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods spanning two and a half millennia. The earliest wreck found was from the Classical period from around the 4th – 5th century BC.

Thanks to the unusual water chemistry of the Black Sea, the rate of disintegration of the ships and associated artefacts has dramatically slowed. Most of the shipwrecks were discovered while mapping the sea floor with sonar and remotely operated vehicles.

Ben Barrett, Drive co-MD, said: “This is an extraordinary series that follows a passionate team and charts some of the most incredible deep-sea discoveries in history. Viewers around the world will get to experience some truly unique shipwrecks in these films, and we’re delighted that More4 has picked up the series.”

Since its launch by co-founders Lilla Hurst and Ben Barrett 6 years ago, Drive has become a leader in securing sales, funding and providing consultancy for a portfolio of production company clients including Oxford Films, October Films, Blink, yap films, Raw TV, Back2Back Productions and Lightbox.

Drive will be appearing at MIPTV on stand P-1.D56 and is launching Telegramme Media’s Pablo Escobar documentary series ‘Tata – Escobar’s Widow’ (2x 60’) to international buyers in Cannes. Drive’s MIPTV factual slate also includes: ‘Busted in Bangkok: Thai Tourist Police’ (6 x 60’), from Curve Media and Motion Content Group’s for Channel 5 in the UK; ‘The Hunt for Ted Bundy’ (1 x 60’), from October Films for Investigation Discovery and ‘Dressing the Part’ (1 x 60’), from the production arm of fashion retailer Mr Porter.

Drive is also distributing a raft of True Royalty TV-commissioned royal-themed titles including ‘Meghan & Harry: Bringing Up Baby’ (Working Title) (1 x 60’), ‘Meghan Markle: Inside the Wardrobe of a Princess’ (1 x 60’), ‘Inside Royal Homes’ (1 x 60’) and ‘The Royal View’ (8 x 30’). All are produced by UK indie Spun Gold TV.