Ovation Looks to the UK for Artful Docs and Performance Films

US Network Signs Acquisition Deals with BBC, Digital Rights Group, Eagle Rock Entertainment, Electric Sky and ITV Global Entertainment

Santa Monica, September 6, 2011 --- Ovation, the only US network devoted to arts culture, has been on a buying spree in the UK.  The indie network has found a number of documentaries and performance films that sync nicely with its brand in the libraries of such top producers and distributors as BBC, Digital Rights Group, Eagle Rock Entertainment, Electric Sky and ITV.  

Ovation closed a licensing deal with BBC for seven documentaries, including US premiere rights to Princess Diana:  Her Life in Jewels and the docu-drama Van Gogh:  Painted with Words.  Other titles include Aristocrats (mini-series), Diana’s Dresses, How to be a Prince, Royal London and Van Dyck:  Undressed.
From Digital Rights Group, Ovation acquired the rights to The Queen’s Sister and Wallis and Edward.  

To fuel its annual “American Revolutionaries” programming event, Ovation looked to Eagle Rock Entertainment.  “American Revolutionaries” is a two-week event focusing on American artists who have had a significant and lasting impact on the cultural landscape.  This year, the focus was on musical hitmakers and Ovation found a goldmine of performance films at Eagle Rock featuring such revolutionaries as Tina Turner, The Doors, The Pretenders, Willie Nelson, The Beach Boys and more.  The licensing deal included 19 titles in all.

Ovation also has an annual programming event called “Battle of the Nutcrackers” and looks for new and classic filmed renditions of the popular ballet each year.  Recently, the network acquired US Premiere rights for the latest performance of The Nutcracker by the Royal Opera House from Electric Sky.  Ovation also acquired Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker for the stunt from ITV Global Entertainment, along with US Premiere rights to William and Kate:  A Modern Royal Romance and US basic cable rights to Bertie and Elizabeth.

“Our programming partners in the UK have been a reliable source for high-quality, documentary and non-scripted programming,” said Kris Slava, SVP of Programming, Ovation.  “At MIPCOM, we will be setting the stage for our next big push -- looking to find more co-production partners and unearth new scripted product that is in the production pipeline.”

About Ovation:
Ovation is the only multi-platform network devoted to arts culture. Ovation gives its viewers access to the artists who define our cultural landscape through its one-of-a-kind mix of hand-picked documentaries, series, movies, and specials.

The channel reaches a national audience of 44 million households through carriage on cable systems, DirecTV (channel 274), Dish Network (channel 157) and Telco systems nationally.  Ovation is also available in HD and VOD (both in standard and high definition).  Ovation extends its linear channel experience for viewers online via its popular website, www.ovationtv.com.  In addition to offering contests, trivia, facts and supplemental video online, the network has created an award-winning online community (www.ovationtv.com/community) for everyone from passionate artists to curious creatives who want to share their work and their thoughts.  To date, over 180,000 pieces of original art have been uploaded to the site by members.


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Patricia Frith                    
Patricia Frith Marketing (for Ovation)    
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