Universal Pictures Home Entertainment And PBS Distribution Ink Canadian Distribution Deal

LOS ANGELES and ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) and PBS Distribution today jointly announced a multi-year, physical distribution agreement whereby UPHE Canada will exclusively distribute all PBS Distribution Blu-ray and DVD releases across the Canadian retail marketplace, effective immediately. The deal covers distribution of a broad product range of public television brands such as "Masterpiece," "Nature," "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood" and "Wild Kratts," as well as other premium content from SkipRope. The agreement marks an expansion of the existing physical home entertainment U.S. distribution arrangement between PBS and UPHE.

"Universal Pictures Home Entertainment continues to be the perfect partner for our home entertainment distribution business as we expand this partnership to the Canadian market," said Andrea Downing, Co-President of PBS Distribution. "The UPHE team brings an award-winning blend of product strategy, operational excellence and retail execution to the PBS product line in this market." 

Included in the initial slate of titles is last week's much anticipated release of "The Vietnam War," a film By Ken Burns and Lynn Novick," on Blu-ray and DVD September 19, 2017. This immersive and definitive 18-hour broadcast event premiered in the U.S. on Sunday, September 17 and will run from Sunday through Thursday evenings in prime-time slots through September 28.  In addition, PBS Distribution will release several popular kids' series on DVD in 2018; among them, "Ready Jet Go!" and Jim Henson's "Splash and Bubbles."

John Melluso, Managing Director, UPHE Canada added: "With such a broad range of premium product, including the now iconic "Downton Abbey" and the upcoming "The Vietnam War", the opportunities to collaborate and maximize PBS' great catalogue are endless. PBS has an impressive track record in bringing a diverse range of programming to the public television community and we are well poised for an enduring and prosperous relationship."

ABOUT UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE – www.uphe.com) is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios. Universal Studios is a part of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

ABOUT PBS DISTRIBUTION
PBS Distribution is the leading media distributor for the public television community, both domestically and internationally, extending the reach of programs beyond broadcast while generating revenue for the public television system and production partners. As a multi-channel distributor, PBS Distribution offers consumers high-quality content in multiple formats including DVD, Blu-ray, digital download and digital streaming. PBS Distribution offers its customers a diverse range of programming, including Ken Burns' films, documentaries from award-winning series such as NOVA, FRONTLINE, AMERICAN MASTERS, NATURE and AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, and dramas from MASTERPIECE, as well as films from independent producers and popular children's programs. PBS Distribution reaches expanded audiences through PBS International, a leading source for factual content for broadcast, cable and satellite services outside of North America, and a theatrical initiative, which specializes in theatrical, festival and non-theatrical distribution.

Contact:

Michael Taylor, PBS Distribution: [email protected] 

Lea Porteneuve, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment:  [email protected]

SOURCE Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

Related Links

http://www.uphe.com