AMC/Sundance Channel acquires content at MipTV

MUMBAI: AMC/Sundance Channel Global is bolstering its programming slate at the on-going television trade event MipTV by acquiring the rights to a range of new productions, series and independent films, including ?Weeds?, ?Damages?, ?The Straits?, ?The Slap? and independent films from festivals including Sundance Film Festival, Cannes, Venice and more.

These announcements follow recent agreements with premier Pay TV platforms across multiple key markets in Europe and Asia for new launches of its international television networks and video-on-demand (VOD) services.

AMC/Sundance Channel Global president Bruce Tuchman said, "AMC/Sundance Channel Global has experienced expanded growth over a very short time and while our advanced rights offering and robust VOD services are embraced by operators, it is our outstanding programming that caters to a hungry audience and continues to drive the growth of our business. These acquisitions reinforce our commitment to offering high quality, independent-minded programming to international audiences across multiple platforms."

Weeds? has been acquired for Sundance Channel in France and French Benelux through a deal with Lionsgate. The agreement includes rights to the series through season four. ?Damages? has been acquired for Sundance Channel in Spain and Portugal through an agreement with Sony Pictures Television. The agreement includes rights to the series through season five. ?The Straits? is a darkly humorous crime drama series set in Australia. Premiere window rights have been acquired for Sundance Channel in Eastern Europe, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, France, Benelux and select territories in Asia through an agreement with DCD Rights.

The Slap?, meanwhile, is a new drama mini-series based on the bestselling book by Christos Tsiolkas. Sundance Channel has acquired premiere window rights for the series to air in Dutch Benelux through an agreement with DCD Rights.

This agreement builds on the channel?s previously acquired rights for the programme in Eastern Europe, Spain,Portugal, Greece, Turkey and Asia. 2 Films have been acquired including ?Bellflower? and ?Myth of the American Sleepover?. The deal includes over 25 premiere window titles on Sundance Channel in Eastern Europe and Belgium. Currently, viewers in Europe and Asia can find shows such as ?Mad Men?, ?The Walking Dead?, ?Breaking Bad? and ?Hell on Wheels? on Sundance Channel. Last week, Sundance Channel?s sister channel AMC in the US debuted season five of "Mad Men" with a two-hour premiere, which resulted in record ratings making it the most watched episode ever from the series.