Acorn TV expands to 30 countries

Acorn TV, the US streaming service specialising in British television, is expanding into 30 countries, including India and Australia.

The SVOD service, which was launched in the US and Canada in 2011, is now also available for US$4.99 a month in Spain, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Venezuela and the Bahamas, among a number of other territories in Europe, South America and the Caribbean.

Programming is in English, with English and Spanish subtitles available.

The expansion comes alongside an aggressive expansion by Acorn TV into co-productions and original content in the past year. The business has also moved quickly to snap up key titles for the US market, picking up US streaming rights to series five of BBC thriller Line Of Duty from Kew Media Distribution in November.

The show previously streamed on Handmaid’s Tale platform Hulu, which premiered the show in the US in 2012, and now has the second window for the show Stateside.

Earlier this year, AMC Networks bought Acorn TV parent company RLJ for US$65m.

Acorn TV’s international offering will add new programmes each week, with content sourced from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada and other European territories.

Current selections include the first seven series of ITV drama Doc Martin, Benedict Cumberbatch-fronted drama The Last Enemy, the full series of Poldark and British period drama The Bletchley Circle.

Matthew Graham, SVP and GM for RLJ Entertainment’s Acorn TV, said: “Acorn TV is doing phenomenally well in North America, so we’re thrilled to continue to take the Acorn TV experience globally with 30 new countries.

“We are excited for global fans of British and international drama and mystery to discover the wonders of Acorn TV with addictive series featuring stellar acting, beautiful settings, and gripping storylines.”