DIRECTV's Audience Network Goes ‘ROGUE'
DIRECTV Orders Its First Original Series from Entertainment One
and Greenroom Entertainment
Series Stars Award-Winning Actress Thandie Newton
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
DIRECTV announced today that it has ordered ten episodes of an original
suspense-drama, ROGUE, starring award-winning actress Thandie Newton (Mission
Impossible 2, Crash) from leading independent studio
Entertainment One Television (eOne) and Greenroom Entertainment. ROGUE
marks DIRECTV's first foray into commissioning an original drama series
exclusively for its customers. Production is slated to begin in August
2012 and the series will premiere next summer 2013 on DIRECTV's Audience
Network.
ROGUE revolves around a morally and emotionally conflicted cop,
Grace (Newton), who is tormented by the possibility that her own actions
contributed to her son's death. Grace's search for the truth is further
complicated by her forbidden relationship with the crime boss who may
have played a hand in the crime. With the addition of ROGUE,
DIRECTV expands on its commitment to offer quality, exclusive
programming to its customers after establishing great success in
providing a home and new creative life to Emmy-winning series such as Damages
and Friday Night Lights, and exclusive, first-run series like Underbelly,
The Slap and the upcoming series, Hit & Miss.
"There's an excitement in the hallways of DIRECTV as ROGUE will
be the first original series on the Audience Network that will be
built from the ground up with the specific goal to provide DIRECTV
customers with a premium entertainment experience they can't get
anywhere else," said Chris Long, senior vice president Entertainment and
Production, DIRECTV. "The unique partnership that Patty Ishimoto,
vice president and general manager of Audience Network, struck with eOne
and Greenroom Entertainment and her relationship with Momentum
Entertainment has helped realize that goal. Together they bring a wealth
of expertise in the areas of production, global distribution, brand
integration and sponsorship to our domestic distribution and marketing
prowess."
"ROGUE is a powerful drama which represents a new model for
the entertainment industry by opening up maximum creative opportunities
to assemble a stellar international cast led by Thandie Newton and
topline writing and creative talent," said Nick Hamm of Greenroom
Entertainment. "Our launch of ROGUE in less than a year since I
forged a partnership with Momentum Entertainment Group is a testament to
the results-driven team behind this project. We are in the business of
making premium contemporary dramas that have mass appeal. I'm thrilled
to collaborate on ROGUE with such forward thinking partners as
DIRECTV and eOne who see the potential of this new model to produce
scripted television shows of the highest caliber."
"eOne is thrilled to be collaborating with talented and creative
executives like Nick and Matthew on ROGUE, the natural evolution
of our excellent relationship with DIRECTV," said Michael Rosenberg,
executive vice president, U.S. Scripted for eOne Television. "Adding
Thandie Newton to the mix confirms that we have all the right
ingredients to make amazing television."
ROGUE will be executive produced by renowned UK Producer/Director
Nick Hamm for Greenroom Entertainment; John Morayniss and Michael
Rosenberg for eOne; and Steven Marrs from Momentum Entertainment Group,
who also helped broker the deal with DIRECTV. Series creator Matthew
Parkhill (The Caller) will also serve as writer and supervising
producer. In addition to airing on DIRECTV's Audience Network, ROGUE
will air on Astral's The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus
Entertainment's Movie Central (Western Canada).
eOne will handle worldwide rights to the series in all media.
About Audience
Network:
The Audience Network is a unique and exclusive television experience
available only to DIRECTV subscribers. The channel first made its mark
in 2008 (as The 101 Network) by partnering with NBC to produce and air
three additional seasons of the Emmy Award-winning series Friday
Night Lights and more recently became the exclusive home of the
critically-acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning drama Damages starring
Glenn Close. The network has become the premier destination for smart,
innovative and critically acclaimed TV fare as we search the globe for
the best new series such as Hit & Miss (United Kingdom), Rake
(Australia), Call Me Fitz and Less Than Kind (Canada). The
Dan Patrick Show, and its companion series The Box Score, keep
sports fans up to date with the latest sports talk. Viewers also enjoy
major events such as the annual DIRECTV Celebrity Beach Bowl and DIRECTV
Old School Challenge.
About DIRECTV:
DIRECTV (NASDAQ: DTV) is one of the world's leading providers of digital
television entertainment services delivering a premium video experience
through state-of-the-art technology, unmatched programming and industry
leading customer service to 32 million customers in the U.S. and Latin
America. In the U.S., DIRECTV offers its 19.9 million customers access
to more than 170 HD channels and Dolby-Digital® 5.1 theater-quality
sound, access to exclusive sports programming such as NFL SUNDAY
TICKET™, Emmy- award winning technology and higher customer satisfaction
than the leading cable companies for 11 years running. DIRECTV Latin
America, through its subsidiaries and affiliated companies in Brazil,
Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, and other Latin American
countries, leads the pay-TV category in technology, programming and
service, delivering an unrivaled digital television experience to more
than 12.7 million customers. DIRECTV sports and entertainment properties
include three Regional Sports Networks (Northwest, Rocky Mountain and
Pittsburgh) as well as a 60 percent interest in Game Show Network. For
the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please visit www.directv.com.
About Entertainment One
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a leading international
entertainment company that specializes in the acquisition, production
and distribution of film and television content. The company's
comprehensive network extends around the globe including Canada, the
U.S., the UK, Ireland, Benelux, France, Germany, Scandinavia, Australia,
New Zealand and South Africa. Through established Entertainment and
Distribution divisions, the company provides extensive expertise in film
distribution, television and music production, family programming and
merchandising and licensing. Its current rights library is exploited
across all media formats and includes more than 20,000 film and
television titles, 2,500 hours of television programming and 45,000
music tracks.
http://www.entertainmentonegroup.com/
About Momentum Entertainment Group
Momentum Entertainment Group (MEG) is the entertainment division of
Momentum Worldwide and part of the McCannWorldGroup Companies
(NYSE:IPG). Opening its doors June, 2011 MEG has hit the ground running
with projects in production and development in both scripted, drama and
comedy as well as digital content and alternative programming. Led by
President Steven Marrs, and Head of Scripted Entertainment Nick Hamm,
MEG is capitalizing on the vast array of existing marketing expertise
within the McCannWorldGroup of companies. As a result it has forged ties
with the Hollywood creative communities and helped produced high-quality
content and productions. It connects talent, brands, and ideas with
distributors to create world class entertainment properties.
About Greenroom Entertainment
Helmed by BAFTA award-winning Director and Executive Producer, Nick
Hamm, Greenroom produces content across a range of genres and platforms
including Hamm's latest directorial feature film KILLING BONO. The hit
2011 comedy was released in the UK by Paramount Pictures and amassed
critical success locally and internationally. In 2009, Greenroom
produced FRESH!, a ground-breaking sitcom that marked the first comedy
series for the BBC's online platform, BBC Switch, and was then
commissioned as a seven-part television series entitled Off The Hook for
the BBC. Hamm's recent appointment as Head of Scripted at the newly
formed Momentum Entertainment Group in Los Angeles combined with
worldwide partnerships spanning the UK, France and Italy, empowers
Greenroom Entertainment to produce the highest quality international
programming that challenges a global audience.
DirecTV
Cara Brugnoli,
212-205-0887
CMBrugnoli@DIRECTV.com
or
Entertainment
One
Jackie Rubin, 416-979-7256
JRubin@entonegroup.com
or
Ink
Media Corporation
Pam Wilson, 661-257-9020
pam.wilson@inkmediacorp.com
or
Momentum
Stephanie
Molina, 310-854-8322
smolina@rogersandcowan.com
Source: DIRECTV
News Provided by Acquire Media
Print page
Email page
Download PDF
