Ovation Also Acquires Linear and Digital Rights for Stealing Van Gogh, The KAWS Effect, Fake or Fortune and Antiques to the Rescue
MIPCOM (Cannes): Ovation, America’s only arts network, has acquired the U.S. broadcast and digital rights for five series from All3Media. The deal includes Travel Man, which will debut on Ovation’s AVOD service JOURNY and also air on Ovation’s linear channel and on-demand service Ovation NOW. Other titles for Ovation TV and Ovation NOW include Stealing Van Gogh (1 x 60’), The KAWS Effect (1 x 30’), and the arts-themed reality series Fake or Fortune (14 x 60’), Antiques to the Rescue (3 x 60’). The announcement was made today by Scott Woodward, EVP Programming, Ovation.
“This package from All3Media really hits upon all our strategic programming hot buttons right now,” noted Woodward. “JOURNY is a big focus for us as the service has grown substantially in the past year. Travel Man is an exceptional series that is funny and culturally relevant. The other series and documentaries fit squarely in our wheelhouse of artistic storytelling and arts-focused content. We’re confident that our viewers will devour this content across all our platforms.”
In Travel Man, acclaimed director, author and BAFTA winning actor Richard Ayoade goes to Iceland with actress Jessica Hynes, Istanbul with comedian Adam Hills, Marrakech with actor Stephen Mangan, and explores Barcelona with Kathy Burke. While he’s there, he’ll be challenging himself to see and do as much as possible, and subjecting so-called tourist attractions to his ruthless scrutiny.
Stealing Van Gogh pieces together the story of two stolen Van Gogh paintings and also looks at the wider world of art crime – why are paintings stolen, what is their value, how are they trafficked on the black market. Sifting through the evidence, the film will trace the path these paintings took through the criminal world, how they were sold on the black market and the painstaking investigation that led to their eventual recovery, verification and restoration.
The KAWS Effect profiles one of the world’s leading contemporary artists, to uncover the impact the digital revolution has made on his art, fame and life. From teenage graffiti artist on the streets of New York to creator of awe-inspiringly monumental sculptures, this film charts the rise to fame of the artist known only as KAWS.
In Fake or Fortune, a recognized arts sleuth, a doctor of history, and cutting edge scientists are joining forces to discover the truth behind paintings with a series of real-time investigations.
In Antiques to the Rescue, John Foster (a familiar face from Antiques Roadshow), uses his 20 years’ experience as a fine arts and antiques auctioneer to find and sell treasures, squirreled away in three large country houses. The funds will pay for restoration work, which will help protect these houses for the future.
“We are thrilled to be announcing this new partnership with Ovation. From cutting edge contemporary artist Kaws, to artist Renoir revealed in Fake or Fortune and the witty view of a reluctant journeyman in Travel Man, this a slate that will be appreciated by audiences throughout the US,” said Maria Ishak, VP, North America, All3Media.