RLJ Entertainment (RLJE)

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Acorn TV's Record-Breaking Year With Exclusive North American Premieres of Hit British Mysteries and Dramas
GlobeNewswire RLJ Entertainment, Inc.
January 22, 2014 11:00 AM
'Best British TV' Streaming Service Triples Subscribers and Grows 475% in Weekly Views


On Track for Groundbreaking 2014 With Even More Exclusive Premieres and Availability on Additional Platforms

SILVER SPRING, Md., Jan. 22, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the growing excitement surrounding British television and its reputation for brilliant casts, sumptuous costumes and well-written storylines, Acorn TV, the first streaming service focused on the best of British TV in North America, achieves a record-breaking year. Acorn TV, RLJ Entertainment's (RLJE) first proprietary digital channel, tripled its subscribers, reached nearly four million website visits to www.Acorn.TV, and, in just the last six months, has grown 475% in weekly views. The North American premiere of smash hit UK series Doc Martin, Series 6, among others exclusives, and its growing marketing outreach for its popular Roku and online channels were instrumental in Acorn TV's success in 2013. 2014 is looking to be another record year with more exclusive premieres, including episodes from the final series of Agatha Christie's Poirot; and increased availability on additional devices.

In fall 2013, the exclusive premiere of Doc Martin, Series 6 set a new record for Acorn TV with more than a quarter of a million views during its initial eight-week debut. Doc Martin is one of the biggest success stories on public television in recent years, and, in the U.K., it's among ITV's highest-rated dramas with more than 10 million viewers. Additionally in 2013, Acorn TV introduced North American viewers to a diverse assortment of exclusive premieres, including Australian noir Jack Irish starring Guy Pearce; archaeological reality series Time Team, UK hit series Vera starring two-time Oscar nominee Brenda Blethyn; new episodes of its longtime, bestselling series Midsomer Murders; as well as streaming the newest episodes of universally acclaimed detective series Foyle's War, to which RLJ Entertainment owns all rights to.

Acorn TV began 2014 with the exclusive debut of hit Australian period mystery series Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, Series 2. Coming in February, Acorn TV features another Jack Irish TV movie, more feature-length episodes from 1960s set mystery series George Gently, and new sitcom You, Me & Them starring Anthony Head and Lindsay Duncan. Beginning in summer 2014, the "Best British TV" streaming service features the final episodes of Agatha Christie's Poirot, which will conclude David Suchet's iconic portrayal of Poirot in all 70 adaptations.

Miguel Penella, Chief Executive Officer of RLJ Entertainment, Inc., said, "RLJ Entertainment has worked aggressively the last 2 years to create and program a subscription service that can fill the void for the millions of Americans craving high quality British content. With tripling our subscriber base and reaching record-setting views, 2013 was a breakthrough year for Acorn TV. With even more exclusive content and platforms, 2014 will be another groundbreaking year for Acorn TV."

Available at www.Acorn.TV and via its Roku channel, Acorn TV streams more than 80 mysteries, period dramas, documentaries and comedies, with more than half streaming exclusively on Acorn TV. Acorn TV adds at least six series each month and offers consumers a 30-day free trial.

Acorn TV is accessible on the #1 streaming player, Roku, as well as computers, and through the browsers on iPhones and iPads. It is also available on many other portable devices. In the coming months, Acorn TV will be available on many more platforms, including an iOS app, and Samsung Smart TV and Blu-ray players.

Called the "chief curators of the best Brit TV" by TIME magazine, RLJ Entertainment's Acorn brand holds exclusive North American distribution rights to many of the most critically acclaimed British programs, which are available for streaming on Acorn TV and from Acorn in lavishly packaged DVDs/Blu-rays. RLJ Entertainment also manages the literary estate of Agatha Christie, the best-selling novelist of all time.


Full access to Acorn TV is available to press upon request.
To watch Acorn TV via computers, iPhones, iPads, etc.: www.Acorn.TV
To add the Acorn TV channel on your Roku: https://owner.roku.com/add/acorntv
About Acorn TV

Launched in July 2011 and available at www.Acorn.TV, Acorn TV is the first British TV focused streaming service in North America. Acorn TV offers a free 30-day trial and thereafter is just $4.99/month or $49.99/year. Acorn TV subscribers also receive free shipping on all orders from Acorn's catalog and website, AcornOnline.com.

RLJ Entertainment, Inc. (RLJE) is a premier independent licensee and distributor of entertainment content and programming in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia with over 5,300 exclusive titles. RLJE is a leader in numerous genres via its owned and distributed brands such as Acorn (British TV), Image (feature films, stand-up comedy), One Village (urban), Acacia (fitness), Slingshot (faith), Athena (documentaries), Criterion (art films) and Madacy (gift sets). These titles are distributed in multiple formats including DVD, Blu-Ray, digital download, digital streaming, broadcast television (including satellite and cable), theatrical and non-theatrical.

Via its relationship with Agatha Christie Limited, a company that RLJE owns 64% of, RLJE manages the intellectual property and publishing rights to some of the greatest works of mystery fiction, including stories of the iconic sleuths Miss Marple and Poirot. And through its direct-to-consumer business, RLJE has direct contacts and billing relationships with millions of consumers.

RLJE leverages its management experience to acquire, distribute, and monetize existing and original content for its many distribution channels, including its nascent branded digital subscription channels, and engages distinct audiences with programming that appeals directly to their unique viewing interests. RLJE has proprietary e-commerce web sites for the Acorn and Acacia brands, and owns the recently launched Acorn TV digital subscription service.


Contact:
Press Contact:
RLJ Entertainment, Chad Campbell,
301.608.2115 *138, [e-mail]