DRG Takes Ovation's Artful Originals to Latin America, China and Italy

DRG Licenses Ovation Original Series and Specials to Pramer, Jinzhou TV and RAI

Santa Monica, CA and London – Monday, 26 September 2011. Ovation, the only US multi-platform network dedicated to arts culture, and leading, London-based content distributor DRG are announcing a slate of international licensing agreements which will see Ovation's original productions reaching viewers on three continents.  DRG, Ovation's international distribution representative, has secured licensing agreements on behalf of the indie programmer with Pramer in Latin America, Jinzhou TV in China and RAI in Italy.  

Latin American powerhouse Pramer has licensed Ovation's documentary Mr. Prince about legendary Broadway producer/director Harold Prince for its service.  Jinzhou TV has licensed Mr. Prince via Royal Seal Media, reaching millions of viewers throughout the region.  The documentary includes interviews with such Broadway luminaries as Carol Burnett, Stephen Sondheim, Joel Grey, Angela Lansbury, Mandy Patinkin, and Mr. Prince himself as he recounts his 40+ years in theater working on productions such as Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, The Phantom of the Opera, Evita and many more.

Italy's leading broadcaster, RAI Television has licensed the fashion countdown show Anatomy of a Closet, which takes viewers on a survey of some of fashion's most iconic items.  From the little black dress to the plain white t-shirt to the mini skirt, this program reviews the most influential fashion items and accessories in contemporary culture.  The program features interviews with such style makers and fashion experts as actress/model/fashion designer Mena Suvari, fashion designer Jason Wu, stylish drummer for U2 Larry Mullen, Jr., Elie Tahari, and more.

"Broadway holds a fascination for audiences around the world, but no individual has been responsible for more Broadway hits than Hal Prince.  His productions have travelled the world so his story carries a tremendous appeal for the theater-loving audiences of China and Latin America,” notes Patrick Roberts, Senior Vice President, International Sales, DRG.  “And there couldn't be a more appropriate program for fashion-focused Italians than Anatomy of a Closet.  The Ovation original catalogue offers a wide range of high-quality, culturally relevant programs that broadcasters from around the world are responding to very positively."

“Patrick and his team have done an incredible job of matching our original content with the perfect television outlets on virtually every continent,” said Kris Slava, SVP, Programming, Ovation.  “We are delighted with the progress they have made on our behalf and are looking forward to the upcoming MIPCOM market.”

At MIPCOM, DRG will be previewing Ovation's most recent original production, In Search of Food hosted by acclaimed chef, author and sustainability advocate Barton Seaver.  Ovation is in pre-production on additional episodes of this fascinating series that follows Seaver as he journeys across America charting the roots and growth of the locovore food movement.


Patricia Frith            
Patricia Frith Marketing (for Ovation)
Tel:  +1 818 876-0480        
Email:  pfmarketing@roadrunner.com

David Reiss
DRG, Head of Marketing & PR
T:  +44 (0) 207 845 5200
E: d.reiss@drg.tv / Online: www.drg.tv