Turner goes 'Native' with Canal+

By MICHAEL WILLIAMS

Turner Prods. and French pay TV giant Canal Plus have officially announced they are co-producing the six-part documentary "The Native Americans," which will premiere on TBS Superstation in October.

The series, to be helmed by John Borden, Phil Lucas and George Burdeau, will cover different geographic regions of the United States and the Native Americans who lived there.

Turner execs won't give budget details, but Canal Plus docu topper Catherine Lamour said the web had put up 20% of the budget.

The deal is the first co-production between the mighty French pay TV web and Turner Prods. although they are now talking about teaming up on Turner's ambitious "Century" documentary project to be lensed by top Hollywood helmers.