(Hong Kong, 23rd April 2012) ITV Granada has signed a deal with leading independent distributor DRG, acquiring hit drama Doc Martin for first-run broadcast across Asia and the Middle East. The agreement, finalised at MIPTV 2012, is the first third party deal for ITV Granada.
ITV Granada will air the programme from the third series on partner TV platforms across Asia and the Middle East, keeping content fresh and up to date with UK scheduling. Doc Martin will add to ITV Granada’s established lineup of award winning, primetime dramas which include Lewis, Poirot and Monroe.
Doc Martin is one of the UK’s highest rating drama series which consistently achieves in excess of 10 million viewers. It has been a success for ITV in the UK ever since its launch in 2004.
Each episode of the much-loved show follows Doc Martin, played by Martin Clunes (Reggie Perrin, Men Behaving Badly), as he turns his back on life as a celebrated ‘big city’ surgeon and moves to a sleepy seaside village to become the local doctor.
Despite his surgical brilliance (and a phobia to blood) Doc Martin has few interpersonal skills and his bedside manner soon starts to upset his new patients. To make matters worse he inherits the world’s most incompetent receptionist.
The community is united in horror at their grumpy new doctor and Doc Martin soon finds he needs all the allies he can get as he tries to negotiate his way around village life with hilarious consequences.
Simon Li, Channel Director at ITV Granada comments “It’s fantastic to be able to work with DRG on our first third party acquisition, even more so to add an award winning ITV brand like Doc Martin to our primetime schedule.”
Chris Bartlett, Vice President, Sales at DRG who brokered the deal added, “Doc Martin is a huge international brand for DRG, successful on all platforms from TV and Digital media through to Home Entertainment. We’re delighted to partner with ITV Granada in bringing this ratings hit to wider audiences throughout Asia and the Middle East.”
Doc Martin Series 3 will air on ITV Granada from 26th June 2012.
About ITV Granada
ITV Granada shows a wide array of contemporary entertainment, award-winning drama, cool comedy and the latest in reality shows from leading producers in the UK and around the world. Available throughout Asia and the Middle East, reaching over 5.5 million households, in more than 15 countries.
ITV Granada is available in Hong Kong – nowTV 517, Indonesia – TelkomVision 503, Malaysia – ASTRO 735, Malta – Go Cable 305 & Melita Cable 309, Singapore – StarHub 523 & Mio TV 23, Taiwan – Chung Hwa Telecom 82, Middle East – OSN 47, and Thailand through CTH’s extensive distribution network.
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For further information contact:
Jennifer Tattersall
Marketing & PR Manager
ITV Granada
Telephone: +852 2511 9701
Email: jennifer.tattersall@itv.com