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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FREMANTLEMEDIA ENTERPRISES AND ACORN MEDIA GROUP
FORGE HOME ENTERTAINMENT DISTRIBUTION DEAL
FOR MORE THAN 30 BRITISH DRAMAS AND MYSTERIES
Most of the titles have never been available on North American home video
Silver Spring, MD; November 5, 2008 - FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) today announces an agreement with Acorn Media Group to handle the home video distribution of more than 30 of FME's classic British mystery and drama titles throughout the US and Canada. The seven year deal, which has been over a year in the making, encompasses many titles which have never been released on DVD or digital download in North America before.
The agreement includes a vast array of classic British dramas and mysteries, including Callan, an espionage drama starring Edward Woodward (The Equalizer); Paradise Postponed, an acclaimed Masterpiece Theatre series adapted by Rumpole of the Bailey creator John Mortimer from his own novel; Pie in the Sky, a light-hearted detective drama featuring Richard Griffiths (The History Boys, Harry Potter films) as a policeman-turned-restaurateur who finds it hard to leave his previous career behind him; Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, a Victorian-era mystery series featuring early performances by Derek Jacobi, John Thaw and many more of Britain's finest actors; and Road from Coorain, an acclaimed adaptation of Jill Ker Conway's beloved memoir seen on Masterpiece Theatre; among many others.
Jeff Siegel, FME Vice President Home Entertainment The Americas, who brokered the deal, said "For years, Acorn Media has proved itself a leader in distributing the best of British television as home entertainment. We are thrilled they'll be bringing so many of our classic mysteries and dramas to market over the next several years."
Don Klees, Vice President of Programming, Acorn Media U.S., said, "FremantleMedia Enterprises has an incredible library of both current and classic British programming, and we are excited to be working with them to bring some of the touchstones of British television to North American home video for the first time. We are also happy to be expanding our partnership with FME after the success of Fingersmith (starring Sally Hawkins) and the recent release of Fanny Hill."
Acorn Media plans to start releasing the first titles from this deal on DVD in Spring 2009.
About Acorn Media Group
The Acorn Media Group, a leading independent global media company, provides distinctive home video products and other merchandise to consumers in North America, the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand. With a special focus on the best of British and Canadian television programming, Acorn Media has exclusive distribution rights to hundreds of collectible titles on DVD. Its U.S. division released a record 76 titles in North America in 2008, including Midsomer Murders, Foyle's War, Slings & Arrows, The Adams Chronicles, Two Fat Ladies, Fortysomething with Hugh Laurie, The Duchess of Duke Street, and Lynda La Plante's Trial & Retribution and The Commander.
About FremantleMedia Enterprises
FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment. It is a division of FremantleMedia, one of the largest international creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world with leading prime time drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment programming in over 40 countries worldwide. FremantleMedia is a subsidiary of RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company, which is 90% owned by Bertelsmann AG, an integrated media and entertainment company that commands leading positions in the world's media markets.
  
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