ITV Global Extends U.S. Home-Entertainment Deal

SILVER SPRING: ITV Global Entertainment has wrapped up its largest deal to date with Acorn Media U.S., in a move that sees more than 300 hours of its programming released on DVD and Blu-ray in North America over the next several years.

Acorn Media U.S. will continue with distribution of the multi-award winning drama series Agatha Christie’s Marple and Agatha Christie’s Poirot. The deal also extends distribution rights to a range of both new and catalogue programming, which it will launch via retail outlets and its online and catalogue mail-order operation throughout 2009 and beyond. Additionally, a variety of documentary content has been selected from the ITV Global Entertainment catalogue for distribution through its recently launched Athena branded line, which specializes in high-quality, nonfiction programming on DVD.

Carol Lee, the VP of home entertainment for 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, the president at Acorn Media U.S., added, “The ITV Global Entertainment catalogue offers a wealth of opportunities for us to expand our range of programming. Acorn Media U..S specializes in the distribution of U.K. produced programming to the North American marketplace, where there is huge demand for both the latest U.K. hit shows and classic, iconic titles. We are delighted to renew and extend our ongoing partnership with ITV Global Entertainment.”