Universal Pictures Home Entertainment And PBS Distribution Ink Canadian Distribution Deal
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.”
