An investigator, a case of abuse, and a dead suspect: Apple TV has acquired the Australian crime series "Dustfall" starring Anna Torv. However, viewers in Germany won't get to see the series first on Apple TV.
Apple has acquired the rights to the six-part crime series "Dustfall". In the lead role, Anna Torv, known from "The Last of Us" and "Mindhunter," plays an investigator on Australia's Gold Coast. The launch on the streaming service Apple TV has been announced for 2027.
„"Dustfall" is not an Apple original production. Apple acquired the series from distributor Federation International; it was originally produced for the Australian broadcaster ABC – in collaboration with the BBC and ZDF. This has implications for the release date in Germany.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Apple TV will show the Australian crime series "Dustfall" starring Anna Torv from 2027.
- In Australia, the series airs on ABC, starting on Sunday, October 11th.
- In their respective broadcasting areas, the BBC and ZDF have the premiere rights – so in Germany the series will air first on ZDF.
- The six episodes are based on the novel "The Unbelieved" by Vikki Petraitis.
Investigator with her own past
Torv plays Detective Antigone "Tig" Pollard. She investigates a sexual assault case that takes a dark turn when a key suspect is found dead. In her search for the truth, Tig is confronted with secrets from her own youth.
Apple describes the series as a noir set in a tropical landscape, filmed and located on the Gold Coast. It centers on a world where victims are not believed and the justice system too often fails. The screenplay is by Dianne Taylor, and all episodes are directed by Emma Freeman ("The Newsreader").
Alongside Torv, the cast includes Juliet Stevenson, Kate Box, and Jay Ryan. Bert LaBonté, who recently appeared in the Apple thriller "Last Seen," is also part of the cast.
First ZDF, then Apple
For German-speaking viewers, the legal situation is the most important point. Apple explicitly states that the series is subject to the premiere rights of the BBC and ZDF in their respective territories. In Germany, "Dustfall" will therefore air first on ZDF, followed by Apple TV. Australia is completely excluded; there, the series will remain with ABC and its streaming service, ABC iView.
| Market | First broadcast |
|---|---|
| Australia | ABC and ABC iview, from October 11, 2026 |
| UK | BBC (Premiere rights) |
| Germany (ZDF broadcasting area) | ZDF (Premiere rights) |
| other Apple TV markets | Apple TV, 2027 |
A similar model was recently used in reverse: The BBC comedy "Small Prophets" was available on Apple TV in Germany from October, while it will not start in the United Kingdom until 2027.
Audience award before the start
The series has already won an award before its broadcast: "Dustfall" won the Audience Award at Series Mania in March 2026. The novel on which it is based, "The Unbelieved," won the Readers' Choice Award at the Australian Davitt Awards.
Available here in Germany first without an Apple subscription
I find the situation remarkable for viewers in Germany: A series from Apple TV is available here first without an Apple subscription. ZDF's premiere rights mean that the series will air first on public television in Germany, and in Australia it will be available from October 11th – months before its Apple launch in 2027.
Therefore, I expect the series to gain more traction in Germany via ZDF than via Apple TV. For Apple, this makes it particularly interesting in markets where no other broadcaster is airing the premiere.
Do you wait for a series like "Dustfall" to premiere on Apple TV, or do you prefer to watch it first on ZDF as soon as it airs there? Tell us in the comments how you handle series that are available on multiple platforms.
