ABC Commercial & DRG Ink New SVOD Content Deal

SYDNEY: ABC Commercial and DRG are expanding their partnership with a new agreement that will see a number of popular DRG shows become available on local SVOD providers in Australia and New Zealand.

Local audiences will soon be able to have access to DRG’s Toast of London and the original U.K. version of Shameless. Other hit programs included in the deal are the comedy Detectorists, the drama Criminal Justice and the three-part docuseries Baroque! From St Peter’s to St Paul’s.

The ongoing pack between the two companies will also see the dramas Lip Service, Teachers, Top Boy, Doc Martin, Kingdom and the complete U.K. version of Queer As Folk continue on local VOD platforms. Cult classics Black Books and The Inbetweeners will also continue to be available locally.

In addition, viewers can keep watching the comedies Peep Show, Spaced, Green Wing and the BAFTA winner Father Ted, and can look forward to the documentaries Paradise Found: Islamic Architecture and Arts, The Michelangelo Code: The Secrets of the Sistine Chapel and Vincent: The Full Story. ABC Commercial has also released several DRG titles on disc this year, including Toast of London, Britain’s Best Canals with John Sergeant and The Art History Collection.

“DRG are one of the world’s leading content distributors and we are thrilled to continue our longstanding relationship with them and for audiences in Australia and New Zealand to have access to more great DRG content,” said Jessica Ellis, the head of ABC’s video entertainment and distribution division. “Our continued work with DRG further exemplifies our position as an Australian and New Zealand leader in both digital and DVD exploitation.”

“ABC Commercial has delivered us tremendous results to date and we are delighted to be extending what has already been a fruitful relationship for us both,” added Joel Atley, DRG’s senior VP of sales for the Asia-Pacific Rim.