ITV Global & Acorn Media Announce USA Home Entertainment Agreement

ITV Global Entertainment has announced the conclusion of its largest deal to date with Acorn Media US, one of the leading independent home entertainment distributors in North America.
The significant agreement includes more than 300 hours of programming to be released by Acorn Media US on DVD and Blu-ray in North America over the next several years. Programmes include ITV Studios highly acclaimed and hugely popular drama and documentary programming.
As part of the deal, Acorn Media US will continue its highly successful distribution of the multi-award winning drama series' Agatha Christie's Marple and Agatha Christie's Poirot, Acorn's best-selling franchises.
The deal also extends distribution rights to a range of both new and catalogue programming, which it will launch via retail outlets and its leading online and catalogue mail order operation throughout 2009 and beyond.
In addition, a variety of documentary content has been selected from the ITV Global Entertainment catalogue for distribution through its recently launched Athena branded line, which specialises in high quality, informative, non-fiction programming on DVD.
Carol Lee, Vice President of Home Entertainment North America at ITV Global Entertainment commented: "We're delighted to be announcing this expanded licensing agreement with Acorn Media, one of North America's leading distributors.
"The partnership commits to ongoing distribution for our highly successful long-running drama series, together with newly added programming from hugely popular genres such as the acclaimed series The Adventure of English, which will be part of the educational Athena line."
Mark Stevens, President of Acorn Media US, added: "The ITV Global Entertainment catalogue offers a wealth of opportunities for us to expand our range of programming. Acorn Media US specialises in the distribution of UK produced programming to the North American marketplace, where there is huge demand for both the latest UK hit shows and classic, iconic titles. We are delighted to renew and extend our ongoing partnership with ITV Global Entertainment."
An integrated part of leading independent global media company Acorn Media Group, Acorn Media US holds exclusive North American distribution rights to a wide range of collectible titles on DVD and Blu-ray, recognised for distributing the best of British television to home entertainment.
The US division will release 100 DVDs in North America in 2009, with several programmes from ITV including Midsomer Murders, Foyle's War, Agatha Christie's Poirot, Lynda La Plante's Trial & Retribution, Agatha Christie's Cracker with Robbie Coltrane among many others.
(KMcA/BMcC)