ITV Studio Release Primetime Drama At MIPCOM

ITV Studios Global Entertainment has announced returning dramas Vera and Monroe are set to launch around the world following deals with a raft of broadcasters.
The news comes as the distribution business reveals a slate of new major primetime series for MIPCOM 2011 including Prime Suspect USA, Underbelly: Razor, The Jury and Appropriate Adult. The home for returning drama, ITVS GE will also ship brand new series from its hit franchises including Vera, Monroe and Above Suspicion.
Monroe has been licensed to broadcasters including ABC Television and Universal Channel (Australia), Baltijos TV (Lithuania), True Visions (Thailand), Sky HD (South Korea), Singtel (Singapore), NRK (Norway), Shaw Media (Canada), Prime (New Zealand) and YLE (Finland). Following deals announced earlier in the year, Vera has been licensed to further territories including RUV, (Iceland), RTV Slovenija (Slovenia), TV4 (Sweden), NRK (Norway) and AXN Mystery (Japan).
Tobias de Graaff, Director Global Television Distribution, ITV Studios Global Entertainment said: "After launching series one of both Vera and Monroe at MIPTV I’m delighted we'll be heading to Cannes with confirmation that these two fantastic dramas have been commissioned for a second series. Our portfolio is rich with returning drama franchises which are seen throughout the world and with these latest deals the fantastic writing and acting talent in both Vera and Monroe will be showcased to global audiences."
ITVS GE will showcase a host of contemporary star-studded primetime drama at MIPCOM 2011, including the much-anticipated US network drama Prime Suspect from ITV Studios America and Universal Media Studios; starring Maria Bello as Lynda La Plante’s tough talking Detective Jane Timoney.
Underbelly: Razor, the latest instalment from the critically acclaimed crime drama franchise will also debut alongside The Jury, written by Peter Morgan and starring Julie Walters as a defence barrister at the centre of a controversial re-trial. Co-produced by Sundance Channel, Appropriate Adult offers a unique insight into the role Janet Leach (Emily Watson) played in the police investigation of Fred West and Above Suspicion: Silent Scream is the new instalment from Lynda La Plante’s ratings winning crime drama.
Following their international launch at MIPTV both Vera and Monroe are returning for a second series joining Murdoch Mysteries, Lewis, Poirot and Above Suspicion as major primetime franchises.
(BMcC/GK)