GRB Inks Deal with Nacelle for ‘Robo Force’

GRB Studios has signed several deals with The Nacelle Company. GRB will distribute Nacelle’s first scripted animated series Robo Force, based on the 1980’s toy line with same name, and has already secured multiples sales for their unscripted doc series Icons Unearthed.

Nacelle is self-financing Robo Force, with Gavin Hignight (Star Wars: ResistanceTransformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy) and Tom Stern (Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black HistorySponge Bob Square Pants) joining to write and produce as show-runners. The pilot episode will be directed by Brian Volk-Weiss, and the first season is set to have six, 22-minute episodes.

This is the first time Nacelle has taken its existing model for stand-up comedy specials and documentaries and replicated it for scripted television. Once the six Robo Force episodes are finished, the company will pitch the series to the major streamers and broadcast networks worldwide, with the intent of securing regional-based license deals.

GRB is also distributing other Nacelle-produced, unscripted programming, including Down to Earth with Zac Efron, Craig Ferguson’s Hobo Fabulous, The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek, and several of the Icons Unearthed docuseries.

Foxtel Australia/New Zealand, Seven.One Germany (7Maxx) and RTL Netherlands have licensed Icons Unearthed Star Wars, Icons Unearthed: The Simpsons, and Icons Unearthed: Fast & Furious. AMC Channels Iberia also picked up Icons Unearthed: Star Wars for La Historia; and YES Israel took Icons Unearthed: Star War and Icons Unearthed: The Simpsons.

https://www.videoageinternational.net/2023/03/07/news/grb-inks-deal-with-nacelle-for-robo-force/

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GRB Studios Inks Deal with The Nacelle Company

GRB Studios has signed a deal with The Nacelle Company to distribute its first scripted animated series, Robo Force, based on the 1980s toy line of the same name.

The first season of Robo Force is set to have six episodes. Gavin Hignight (Star Wars: ResistanceTransformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy) and Tom Stern (Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black HistorySpongeBob SquarePants) are on board to write and produce as showrunners. The pilot episode will be directed by Brian Volk-Weiss. Nacelle has self-financed the series.

GRB Studios already distributes Nacelle-produced unscripted programming, including Down to Earth with Zac EfronCraig Ferguson’s Hobo FabulousThe Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek and several of the Icons Unearthed docuseries.

Recently, Foxtel in Australia/New Zealand, Seven.One in Germany and RTL in the Netherlands licensed Icons Unearthed: Star WarsIcons Unearthed: The Simpsons and Icons Unearthed: Fast & Furious. AMC Channels Iberia also picked up the Star Wars documentary, while YES in Israel took the Star Wars and The Simpsons documentaries.

“GRB is thrilled to be starting 2023 off with fantastic new programming and strong sales from our long-term partner, The Nacelle Company,” said Hud Woodle, executive VP of international sales and operations at GRB Studios. “Around the world from AsiaPac and Canada to Europe back to the U.S., GRB continues to offer its global partners a unique blend of programming, something for every viewer.”

https://worldscreen.com/grb-studios-inks-deal-nacelle-company/

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GRB Studios announces first scripted program deal with The Nacelle Company, animated series Robo Force

Hud Woodle, Executive Vice President, International Sales, and Operations of GRB Studios announced several deals from their partnership with The Nacelle Company (Nacelle). GRB will distribute The Nacelle Company’s recently announcedfirst scripted animated series, Robo Forcebased on the 1980’s toy line with same name; and has already secured multiples sales for their unscripted doc series Icons Unearthed.

Nacelle is the studio behind The Toys That Made Us, Behind the Attraction, Down to Earth With Zac Efron, 2019’s Mad About You reboot, Icons Unearthed and The Movies That Made Us, and is self-financing Robo Force (see attached photo), its first animated television series based on the 1980s property that they acquired in 2021. Gavin Hignight (Star Wars: ResistanceTransformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy) and Tom Stern (Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black HistorySponge Bob Square Pants) and have joined to write and produce as showrunners. The pilot episode will be directed by Brian Volk-Weiss, and the first season is set to have six, twenty-two-minute episodes.

This is the first time Nacelle has taken its existing model for stand-up comedy specials and documentaries and replicated it for scripted television. Similar to the way Nacelle has financed and distributed many of its docs, once the six Robo Force episodes are finished, the company will pitch the series to the major streamers and broadcast networks worldwide, with the intent of securing regional-based license deals.

GRB is also distributing other Nacelle-produced, unscripted programming, including Down to Earth with Zac Efron, Craig Ferguson’s Hobo Fabulous, The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek and several of the Icons Unearthed docu-series. Icons Unearthed series cover a multitude of legendary television shows and movies that have become global entertainment brands, providing previously unknown and surprising details of the brands, and including exclusive interviews with writers, producers, directors, actors, and network executives.

Foxtel Australia/New Zealand, Seven.One Germany (7Maxx) and RTL Netherlands all licensed Icons Unearthed Star Wars, and Icons Unearthed: The Simpsons, and Icons Unearthed: Fast & Furious. And AMC Channels Iberia also picked up Icons Unearthed: Star Wars for La Historia Meanwhile, YES Israel took Icons Unearthed: Star War and Icons Unearthed: The Simpsons.  More sales are to be announced in the weeks leading up to MIPTV in April.

Woodle stated: “GRB is thrilled to be starting 2023 off with fantastic new programming and strong sales, from our long-term partner, The Nacelle Company.  Around the world from APAC and Canada to Europe back to the US, GRB continues to offer its global partners a unique blend of programming, something for every viewer.”

https://tva.onscreenasia.com/2023/03/grb-studios-announces-first-scripted-program-deal-with-the-nacelle-company-animated-series-robo-force/

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Foxtel, 7Maxx & Yes buy ‘Icons Unearthed’ shows as GRB extends Nacelle deal with ‘Robo Force’

Foxtel in Australia, 7Maxx in Germany, Yes in Israel and RTL Netherlands have struck deals for docs from the Icons Unearthed franchise and unveiled an expanded partnership with producer The Nacelle Company (Nacelle).

Foxtel, 7Maxx and RTL Netherlands have picked up Icons Unearthed: The Simpsons and Icons Unearthed: Fast & Furious, along with Icons Unearthed: Star Wars.

The latter has also been acquired by AMC Iberia’s La Historia and Yes, which also bought Icons Unearthed: The Simpsons from distributor GRB Studios.

The US company has also unveiled a new pact with Nacelle that will see GRB distributing the production firm’s scripted animation Robo Force, which is based on the 1980’s toy line with same name.

Nacelle, which has been behind shows including The Toys That Made UsBehind The Attraction and Down To Earth With Zac Efron, has taken its existing model for stand-up comedy specials and documentaries and replicated it for scripted television with Robo Force: financing and producing, before distributing.

https://tbivision.com/2023/03/06/foxtel-7maxx-yes-buy-icons-unearthed-shows-as-grb-extends-nacelle-deal-with-robo-force/

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GRB Studios to send The Nacelle Company’s Robo Force toon around the world

US-based producer and distributor GRB Studios has picked up the distribution rights to The Nacelle Company’s first scripted animated series, Robo Force.

Robo Force is based on the 1980s toy line of the same name and is being self-financed by Nacelle, which acquired the property in 2021. The first season will comprise 6×22’ episodes.

Gavin Hignight (Star Wars: Resistance, Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy) and Tom Stern (Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History, SpongeBob SquarePants) have joined to write and produce as showrunners, while the pilot episode will be directed by Brian Volk-Weiss.

Once the first season of Robo Force is finished, GRB will pitch it to the major streamers and broadcast networks worldwide, with the intention of securing regional-based licence deals.

Meanwhile, GRB has sold various iterations of Nacelle’s docuseries Icons Unearthed to broadcasters worldwide. Icons Unearthed provides previously unknown details of TV shows and movies that have become global entertainment brands, including exclusive interviews with writers, producers, directors, actors and network executives.

Foxtel in Australia and New Zealand, Seven.One in Germany’s 7Maxx and RTL Netherlands have all licensed Icons Unearthed: Star Wars, Icons Unearthed: The Simpsons and Icons Unearthed: Fast & Furious.

AMC Channels Iberia has also picked up Icons Unearthed: Star Wars for La Historia, while YES in Israel has bought Icons Unearthed: Star War and Icons Unearthed: The Simpsons.

https://www.c21media.net/news/grb-studios-to-send-the-nacelle-companys-robo-force-toon-around-the-world/

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GRB Studios Scores Global Sales Across Genres

GRB Studios finalized a slew of global program deals with broadcasters from Europe, MENA, Africa, and APAC, all in time for MIPCOM.

In a Pan-African deal, Canal+ secured a trio of romances: DownsizedFor the Love of Ruth, and The Summoning. For Africa, Angola, Cape Verde, and Mozambique, My Channel struck a deal for seasons two through eight of Untold Stories.

In Japan, Nippon TV picked up wildlife program When Fish Attack II.

In Europe, Discovery UK acquired Death Walker featuring Nick Groff for the U.K. and Ireland, while AETN UK picked up season 11 of On the Case. AMC Iberia snapped up season three of Auction Kings for Spain and Portugal. Also in Portugal, SIC obtained five titles: travelogue and food series Down to Earth with Zac Efron, docu-series Pregnant & Dating, documentary Remembering Whitney, biographical movie Bobbi Kristina, and docu-series Cinderella Bride.

OSN grabbed factual series Down to Earth with Zac Efron and Lens of Culture for MENA.

Hud Woodle, executive vice president, International Sales, and Operations of GRB Studios, commented, “GRB is thrilled to be going into MIPCOM with such great deals on the table for many of our popular titles as well as some exciting new shows. We look forward to closing even more sales as this is the busiest MIPCOM in years and we are excited to see our long-standing partners in person again, and of course, to meet new colleagues.”

https://www.videoageinternational.net/2022/10/17/news/grb-studios-scores-global-sales-across-genres/

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Star Wars and Simpsons docs head GRB slate

 

NEWS BRIEF: Californian production and distribution company GRB is bringing two new series from its Icons Unearthed franchise to Mipcom.

Icons Unearthed: Star Wars (6×60’) claims to be the definitive story of the creation and filming of George Lucas’s sci-fi franchise Star Wars, while another six-parter reveals surprising details about enduring animated series The Simpsons. GRB’s exec VP of international sales and operations Hud Woodle will also shop Music’s Greatest Mysteries in Cannes, a new docu series billed as featuring some of the most unique and enigmatic stories in the history of the record industry.

https://www.c21media.net/news/star-wars-and-simpsons-docs-head-grb-slate/

 

 

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GRB Studios announces global deals with Foxtel Australia, Discovery New Zealand and more


Hud Woodle, Executive Vice President, International Sales, and Operations of GRB Studios announced a variety of global sales deals and also ambitious acquisition plans for the upcoming MIPTV market in Cannes. Deals closed include:

Europe – U.K.

  • Auction Kings: Atlanta-based reality program goes to Romania via AETN UK
  • The Bay: Emmy®-winning drama series travels to Slovenia, S1-6 to be broadcast by Planet TV d.o.o
  • On The Case with Paula Zahn:  true-crime investigation program in France by M6 for S7 & S8

Australia & New Zealand

  • Turquoise Fever: docuseries family mining show picked up by Foxtel Australia  
  • Served: Harvey Weinstein: entertainment documentary also picked up by Foxtel Australia 
  • Rhys Darby: Mystic Time Bird: stand-up comedy special was acquired by Channel 10 Australia and Discovery New Zealand 

North/South America:  Brazil & U.S.

  • Untold Stories of the E.R.:   medical emergency reality docuseries was picked up by Pluto TV: U.S. — all available seasons in both English and Spanish; Pluto TV: Brazil also secured several seasons of the program in Portuguese.

Woodle stated, “GRB is thrilled to be going into MIPTV strong with a slate of distribution deals behind us and we are actively looking to acquire some great new programming from around the world in all genres scripted and unscripted.  We are also looking forward to meeting in person in Cannes with our current and new partners.”

https://tva.onscreenasia.com/2022/03/grb-studios-announces-global-deals-foxtel-australia-discovery-new-zealand-and-more/

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GRB Studios Scores Global Deals

GRB Studios announced a slew of global sales deals for its programming.

In Europe, reality series Auction Kings will head to Romania via AETN UK, and drama series The Bay (pictured) will broadcast in Slovenia on Planet TV. France’s M6 also picked up the true-crime investigation program On The Case with Paula Zahn for S7 and S8.

Foxtel Australia acquired docu-series Turquoise Fever and entertainment documentary Served: Harvey Weinstein. In addition, Channel 10 Australia and Discovery New Zealand snapped up stand-up comedy special Rhys Darby: Mystic Time Bird.

Pluto TV secured all available seasons of Untold Stories of the E.R. in English and Spanish for the U.S., while the platform also picked up several seasons in Portuguese for Brazil. 

Hud Woodle, executive vice president of International Sales and Operations at GRB Studios, remarked, “GRB is thrilled to be going into MIPTV strong with a slate of distribution deals behind us and we are actively looking to acquire some great new programming from around the world in all genres scripted and unscripted.  We are also looking forward to meeting in person in Cannes with our current and new partners.”

https://www.videoageinternational.net/2022/03/28/news/grb-studios-scores-global-deals/

 

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GRB Studios Secures Raft of Global Sales Deals

GRB Studios has confirmed a number of global sales deals, including with AETN UK, Foxtel Australia, Discovery New Zealand and Pluto TV in the U.S. and Brazil.

Untold Stories of the E.R., a medical emergency reality docuseries, was picked up by Pluto TV. In the U.S., the platform will carry all available seasons in both English and Spanish. Pluto TV in Brazil secured several seasons of the program in Portuguese.

The Atlanta-based reality program Auction Kings has been picked up for Romania by AETN UK. Additional sales into Europe include Planet TV d.o.o. acquiring seasons one through six of The Bay for Slovenia and France’s M6 picking up seasons seven and eight of On the Case with Paula Zahn.

In the Australia and New Zealand markets, the family mining docuseries Turquois Fever was acquired by Foxtel Australia, which also acquired Served: Harvey WeinsteinRhys Darby: Mystic Time Bird, a stand-up comedy special, sold to Channel 10 Australia and Discovery New Zealand.

Hud Woodle, executive VP of international sales and operations at GRB Studios, said: “GRB is thrilled to be going into MIPTV strong with a slate of distribution deals behind us and we are actively looking to acquire some great new programming from around the world in all genres scripted and unscripted. We are also looking forward to meeting in person in Cannes with our current and new partners.”

https://worldscreen.com/tvreal/grb-studios-secures-raft-of-global-sales-deals/

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GRB Studios on Delivering to the Demand

Serving linear, digital and branded platforms, GRB Studios’ success in the international factual industry has seen it pick up an Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program for Intervention and bring to the global market such hits as Untold Stories of the ER and Growing Up Gotti. All told, the company’s distribution team has on offer a catalog of more than 4,000 hours that cover an array of genres within the factual landscape, ready to keep pace with the growing market and meet its insatiable demand.

“The global factual industry is in a state of rapid growth,” says Hud Woodle, executive VP of international sales and operations at GRB Studios, making note of the impact of unscripted programming’s continued expansion within the streaming space. “Demand for factual content continues to increase from traditional linear channels, AVOD and SVOD.”

With the near-constant shifts in the global TV and media industry in recent years, “the importance of third-party acquisitions has been critical to GRB’s international success,” explains Woodle, who notes that the company is always on the lookout for quality programs in all genres.

Most recently, GRB Studios secured a slew of international deals for The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek, a docuseries produced by The Nacelle Company for HISTORY in the U.S. Taking viewers on a journey behind the scenes of the television and movie franchise, The Center Seat has been licensed to new markets in Europe, as well as into Australia and New Zealand and Canada.

“Docuseries related to pop culture subjects, such as The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek, are in high demand, and crime programs continue to do very well,” says Woodle. “On the Case with Paula Zahn is a fan favorite around the world. GRB also continues to have great success with Death Walker, featuring Nick Groff.”

GRB’s diverse slate includes food, travel, automotive, comedy, lifestyle, science and wildlife programming as well, all of which have in common the ability to connect with viewers around the world.

“The main ingredient is always an engaging story that touches on our shared human experience and breaks through language barriers,” says Woodle. “These are the types of programming that our buyers expect from us, and that’s what gives our slate the edge.”

Not unlike other players in the industry, GRB Studios has had to find innovative ways of conducting business over the last couple of years. And while the challenges have not managed to slow the company down, Woodle is keen to get back to engaging with partners at industry events.

“We are looking forward to returning to in-person markets!” says Woodle. “These last two years demonstrated how much can be done online and remotely, but there’s nothing better than real-life, face-to-face, in-person conversations!”

https://worldscreen.com/tvreal/grb-studios-on-delivering-to-the-demand/

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GRB Studios’ Global Sales At Warp Speed

GRB Studios scored multiple international deals for The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek – the docu-series Nacelle produced for History US that provides the definitive behind-the-scenes journey of one of television’s most legendary franchises. The Center Seat has been licensed to RTL Netherlands, SevenOne Germany, Foxtel for Australia and New Zealand, and Bell Media in Canada for English and French regions.

Hud Woodle, Executive Vice President of International Sales & Operations at GRB Studios points out, “The Center Seat marks another successful partnership between The Nacelle Company and GRB international distribution, and there is so much more yet to come.”

Death Walker with Nick Groff also continues to scare up sales!  Canada’s Bell Media licensed both seasons for CTV Sci-Fi. Discovery Europe acquired the second season of Death Walker for the UK territory.

Aussie Pay TV group, Foxtel, brought on the feature documentary, Meet The Hitlers, from the producer of Super Size Me. Also from Down Under, Network Ten Australia took season 6 of the 15-time Emmy® Award-winning drama series, The Bay.

CBS Reality got a hold of Confessions: Animal Hoarding (Season 1 and 2) for most European territories, and the blood-tingling docu-series, Turquoise Fever, for African countries. Also in Africa, Canal+ obtained a package of 10 movies, including Bad Dad Rehab, Behind The Movement, Bobbi Kristina, Chasing Waterfalls, A Christmas Blessing, Definitely Divorcing, Love Under New Management, To Hell and Back, Jean of the Joneses, Coins for Christmas.

Other recent deals include: The New Normal – an eye-opening documentary that follows the aftermath of a mass school shooting – to WaterBear global VOD platform, and Wicked Vision Distribution obtained the home video rights for The Ultimate Stuntman – A Tribute to Dar Robinson in Germany.

​Woodle remarks, “Our international sales have remained increasingly active this year, even as the pandemic continued across many parts of the world. Buyers around the world for all media outlets, from linear to VOD, know GRB Studios is the one-stop-shop for quality, audience-pleasing content across the globe, and we are always happy to deliver.”

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The Show “Intervention” is Actually Saving Lives According to Statistics

When the A&E series Intervention debuted more than 15 years ago, there were lots of people who were skeptical that a reality TV show could really help people who were suffering from substance abuse issues. Many people felt like recovery was too personal of a thing to be charged on TV. After all, dealing with an addiction can be an incredibly painful thing. People often reach very low points in their lives that can be difficult to watch. Plus, reality TV is incredibly entertaining but other than that it doesn’t have the best reputation. As a result, even shows with seemingly good intentions can fall under a lot of scrutiny. However, despite all of the doubt that has surrounded Intervention since its release, it may have done a lot more positive things than many viewers realize.

In fact, Intervention may have saved well over 100 lives in the years since its been on the air. Many are hoping that it will be able to continue to do so in the future. Keep reading to learn more about the success rate of the TV series Intervention.

Over the years, most people have probably just assumed that many of the people featured on Intervention have failed in their recovery. Of course, there have been several people who have refused treatment all together, or some whose treatment wasn’t successful. In reality, however, that hasn’t been the case for most of the people who have been featured on the show.

According to Distractify, “In 2017, The Daily Beast reported that 130 of the 160 subjects that have been featured on Intervention have completed rehab and are still sober.” With the vast majority of the show’s participants having successful recovieries, it’s safe to say that Intervention is doing something right.

There are some people out there who will argue that the success rate has nothing to do with the show itself and more to do with the individuals’ willingness to make changes. While it’s true that each person must be willing to participate in their recovery, the show does play an important role in the process. All of the people featured on Intervention receive free treatment in exchange for sharing their stories. This is a life-changing opportunity for all of the people out there who could not otherwise afford rehabilitation.

The length of the rehabilition program is another reason people on Intervention are likely to find success. According to licescend psychologist and addition therapist, Andrew Tatarsky, “There’s much too much emphasis on very expensive 30-day rehabs which have a lower success rate. There’s this implication that if you go away for 30 days you’ll get fixed, but the issues are often much more complex and really require more of an ongoing, deep individual psychotherapy.”

On top of that, the act of having an intervention may also be a key component in a person’s success. In an article from The Daily Beast, interventionalist Jeff VanVonderen said, “People are more likely to go to treatment if there’s an intervention, they’re more likely to stay in treatment, they’re more likely to do better afterward, because everything’s changed. Not just, they went to treatment. The family’s gonna get well without you, and that comes through in the intervention.” This also highlights the fact that Intervention isn’t simply an individual process. People who have strong support systems are more likely to make it through the recovery process. That said, the show has been equally as helpful for friends and family members as it has for the people who are actually struggling with the addiction.

Intervention just wrapped it’s 22nd season, and it has not yet been renewed for another season. That said, there’s nothing to indicate that they we won’t get another season of the popular show. Viewers still seem to be interested and there’s certainly no shortage of people who could use the help. Although there re still some people who believe that the show is exploitive, it appears that it’s certainly done more good than anything else. At the end of the day, the producers are going to do what they can to keep viewers interested, but that doesn’t diminish the fact that there are real people being helped.

The hundreds of success stories that are the result of Intervention have become an inspiration to many people. Just by being on the air, there is a chance that the series may have helped people who simply watched the show.

https://www.tvovermind.com/the-show-intervention-is-actually-saving-lives-according-to-statistics/

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MNet, ProSieben shop at GRB

South African pay TV broadcaster MNet and ProSieben in Germany are among the international broadcasters to have bought nearly 200 hours of content from US producer and distributor GRB Studios.

MNet has acquired stand-up comedy specials including Eddie Griffin: E-Niggma, Finesse Mitchell: The Spirit Told Me to Tell You and Jermaine Fowler: Give ‘Em Hell Kid.

UK-based SVoD service NextUP will carry 10 stand-up specials from GRB, including Celeste Barber: Challenge Accepted, DL Hughley: Clear and Danny Bhoy: Subject to Change.

Comedy Central Middle East has acquired stand-up special Maz Jobrani: Pandemic Warrior, while ProSieben Germany has taken Turquoise Fever, a documentary series following a Nevada gem-mining family, and Auction Kings, a German-language series looking at the world of auctioneering.

Viasat has acquired Turquoise Fever for Central and Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, while AETN UK has gone for Auction Kings season three and the 10th season of real-life investigative series On the Case.

Finally, You Look, a new AVoD service in Ireland and the UK, took culinary series Eat Your Words S1-2 and Recipe Rehab, as well as two seasons of docuseries Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s.

https://www.c21media.net/mnet-prosieben-shop-at-grb/

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