Ovation Also Acquires Linear Rights For Drama Series Maigret
Los Angeles, CA: Ovation, America’s only arts network, has acquired the U.S. broadcast rights for two series from BBC Studios. The deal includes two seasons of Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby (13 x 60’), which will be available on Ovation’s AVOD service JOURNY and will also air on Ovation’s linear channel and on-demand service Ovation NOW. The deal also includes two seasons of scripted drama series Maigret (4 x 90’) starring Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean). The announcement was made today by Scott Woodward, EVP Programming, Ovation.
In Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby, writer Giles Coren and chef Monica Galetti travel the world, working alongside staff in the world’s most spectacular hotels. They explore the hidden gems that everyday people never get to see and are thrown right into the hustle and bustle of everyday life of the hotel staff. As well as working with the staff, they also spend some time with them to find out what their lives are like outside of the hotel. Travelling to Singapore and Ecuador and across the world, Giles and Monica discover what life is like beyond the lobby.
The crime drama Maigret stars Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) as world-renowned fictional French detective Jules Maigret, who was featured in 75 books written by Georges Simenon. Other leading cast members include Fiona Shaw, Lucy Cohu, Shaun Dingwall and Rufus Wright. The first episode is based on the story `Maigret Sets a Trap’, in which the detective investigates the murder of four women found dead in the Montmarte region of Paris, during the summer of 1955.
“Amazing Hotels is the perfect title to add to our ever-expanding Journy library. This is a professional traveler’s inside look at some of the world’s most unique hotels,” said Woodward. “We’re also pleased to welcome Rowan Atkinson’s Detective Maigret to the network, carrying on our tradition of providing our audience with premium mystery programming like Murdoch Mysteries, Frankie Drake Mysteries and Midsomer Murders.”
“BBC Studios – Americas and valued partner OvationTV share a passion for quality factual and drama programming. Amazing Hotels and Maigret are unique series and we expect that their appeal will successfully cross the pond for audiences to enjoy on their channel,” stated Chris Cole, SVP, TV Co-productions and Sales, Factual, BBC Studios – Americas.
Amazing Hotels: Beyond the Lobby will air on Ovation starting on April 18, 2019 and will be available on Journy starting August 2019. Episodes will also be available on Ovation NOW.
Maigret will air in late 2019.
About OVATION America’s Only Arts Network
Art has the power to inspire us, elevate our thinking, and awaken our senses. As an independent television, production and digital media company, OVATION has an unparalleled commitment to the arts, culture and captivating entertainment. Showcasing a lineup of critically-acclaimed premium dramas, arts-related specials and documentaries, and iconic films, OVATION salutes innovative storytelling, lives for the art in entertainment, finds beauty in the everyday, and applauds art in unexpected places. OVATION is available to nearly 50M subscribers via cable, satellite and telco systems including Comcast Cable/Xfinity, DIRECTV/AT&T U-verse, SPECTRUM, Verizon FiOS, as well as on VOD. Through THE OVATION FOUNDATION, the company is committed to advocating for the arts, nationally and locally, and has provided more than $15M in contributions and in kind support to arts institutions and arts education. You can follow OVATION on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, OvationTV.com, and through our App, OVATION NOW.
About BBC Studios
BBC Studios, a global content company with British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC. Formed in April 2018 by the merger of BBC Worldwide and BBC Studios, it spans content financing, development, production, sales, branded services, and ancillaries. BBC Studios’ award-winning British programs are internationally recognized across a broad range of genres and specialties. It has offices in 22 markets globally, including seven production bases in the UK and production bases and partnerships in a further nine countries around the world. The company, which makes over 2,500 hours of content a year, is a champion for British creativity around the world and a committed partner for the UK’s independent sector.
In the Americas, BBC Studios’ operates two production units – one in Los Angeles, responsible for ratings juggernaut and Emmy®-nominated Dancing with the Stars and multi-award-winning Life Below Zero, and the other in Brazil, where local productions Dancing Brasil and Bake Off Brasil have become breakout hits. The company manages joint venture relationships with AMC Networks for flagship channel BBC AMERICA (U.S.) – home of original series Killing Eve and global brands Dynasties, Doctor Who, and Top Gear – and with ITV for SVoD service BritBox (U.S./Canada), as well as strategic partnerships in Canada with Blue Ant Media for BBC Earth Channel and Corus for BBC Canada. The company also boasts a franchise management business and a robust linear and digital content sales and co-productions operation.