LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM and TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sept. 5, 2013) - Leading independent studio Entertainment One (eOne) (LSE:ETO) announced today it has signed an exclusive multi-year distribution agreement whereby eOne will handle international distribution for all original scripted series from U.S. based AMC Networks' AMC and Sundance Channel. Additionally, Sundance Channel Global, the international arm of AMC Networks, plans to carry select series from the eOne output agreement on its networks.
This pact represents AMC and Sundance Channel's first exclusive international output partnership for scripted content and enhances the growing relationship between the two companies. eOne is the studio and international distributor behind the AMC series Hell on Wheels, and along with Fox International Channels, the international distributor for the zombie phenomenon The Walking Dead.
"AMC and Sundance Channel have evolved into some of the world's most successfully branded cable networks, each with an exceptional slate of high-quality programming," said John Morayniss, CEO eOne Television. "We're thrilled to be expanding our relationship with AMC Networks and are honored to have been chosen as their major international distributor."
Ed Carroll, AMC Networks COO, stated, "AMC Networks has enjoyed a successful partnership with eOne on our series Hell on Wheels, and as one of the distributors on The Walking Dead. We look forward to expanding the relationship and feel confident eOne is the right company to distribute our high quality content."
In addition to AMC's Hell on Wheels, eOne's current scripted series include Discovery Channel's highly-anticipated foray into scripted television Klondike, a mini-series co-produced by Discovery, eOne, and Nomadic Pictures in association with Scott Free Television; Rookie Blue on ABC and Shaw; suspense-drama Rogue, starring Thandie Newton, for DIRECTV; Call Me Fitz on DIRECTV and HBO Canada; preschool-phenom Peppa Pig on Nick Jr., and, among many others.
Through strong relationships with broadcasters and content providers, eOne Television International has successfully sold eOne's original and third-party productions to over 500 broadcasters in 150 countries, including key US networks and international pay TV channels.
The first projects under the deal are AMC's Halt & Catch Fire and Turn, and Sundance Channel's The Red Road.
HALT & CATCH FIRE: Set in the early 1980s, Halt & Catch Fire dramatizes the personal computing boom through the eyes of a visionary, an engineer and a prodigy whose innovations directly confront the corporate behemoths of the time. Their personal and professional partnerships are challenged by greed and ego while charting the changing culture in Texas' Silicon Prairie. From AMC Studios, Halt & Catch Fire is created by Chris Cantwell and Chris Rogers from a pilot directed by Juan Campanella (The Secret In Their Eyes). Jonathan Lisco has joined the series as showrunner and Mark Johnson (Breaking Bad, Rectify, Diner, Rain Man) and Melissa Bernstein (Breaking Bad and Rectify) from Gran Via Productions also serve as executive producers. The series stars Lee Pace (Lincoln, Pushing Daisies) as Joe McMillan, Scoot McNairy (Argo) as Gordan Clark, Mackenzie Rio Davis (Smashed) as Cameron Howe, Kerry Bishe (Argo, Red State) as Donna Clark, Toby Huss (Cowboys & Aliens) as John Bosworth and David Wilson Barnes (The Bourne Legacy, You Don't Know Jack) as Dave Butler.
TURN: Based on the book Washington's Spies, written by Alexander Rose, Turn is set in the summer of 1778 and tells the story of New York farmer Abe Woodhull, who bands together with a group of childhood friends to form the Culper Ring, an unlikely group of spies who turn the tide in America's fight for independence. Turn, also from AMC Studios, was developed and written by Craig Silverstein (Nikita) who also serves as series showrunner. The pilot was directed by Rupert Wyatt (Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes). Barry Josephson (Bones, Enchanted) from Josephson Entertainment is executive producer. The series stars Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot, King Kong, The Adventures of Tintin) as Abraham Woodhull, Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) as Judge Richard Woodhull, Burn Gorman (The Dark Knight Rises) as Major Hewlett, Daniel Henshall (The Snowtown Murders) as Caleb, Seth Numrich (The Good Wife) as Ben Talmadge, Angus MacFadyen (Braveheart) as Robert Rogers, JJ Feild (Captain America: The First Avenger) as Major John Andre, Meegan Warner as Mary Woodhull and Heather Lind (Boardwalk Empire) as Anna Strong.
THE RED ROAD: A hard-hitting drama that revolves around a local cop (Martin Henderson) struggling to keep his family together while simultaneously policing two clashing communities: the small town where he grew up and the neighboring mountains, home of a Native American tribe. After a terrible tragedy and coverup occurs involving the cop's wife (Julianne Nicholson), an unholy alliance is forged between the cop and Phillip Kopus (Jason Momoa), a dangerous member of the tribe, that will come back to haunt all involved. The Red Road has been picked up for six one-hour episodes and hails from acclaimed writer Aaron Guzikowski (Contraband, Prisoners) and veteran producer Sarah Condon (Bored to Death). The series will be executive produced by Guzikowski and Condon, and Bridget Carpenter (Friday Night Lights, Parenthood) will serve as executive producer and showrunner. Award-winning director James Gray (The Immigrant, Two Lovers, We Own the Night) will direct the first episode.
About Entertainment One
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a leading international entertainment company that specializes in the acquisition, production and distribution of film and television content. The company's comprehensive network extends around the globe including Canada, the U.S., the UK, Ireland, Benelux, Spain, France, Germany, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South Korea. Through established Entertainment and Distribution divisions, the company provides extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production, family programming and merchandising and licensing. Its current rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 35,000 film and television titles, 2,800 hours of television programming and 45,000 music tracks.
www.entertainmentone.com
About AMC Networks Inc.
Dedicated to producing quality programming and movie content for more than 30 years, AMC Networks Inc. owns and operates several of the most popular and award-winning brands in cable television. AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv, and IFC Films produce and deliver distinctive, compelling and culturally relevant content that engages audiences across multiple platforms. The company also operates AMC/Sundance Channel Global, an international programming business, and AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology, a full-service network programming feed origination and distribution company.