AMC/Sundance sets-up Asian headquarters

MUMBAI: AMC/Sundance Channel Global announced the establishment of its Asian headquarters and substantial steps toward building out local staff and operations.

The company?s scheduling and on-air creative services will be based in Singapore while affiliate operations will be spearheaded out of Hong Kong. The company had recently appointed Keith Mak to oversee affiliate distribution and marketing for the company?s Asian operations.

Coming on the heels of Sundance Channel?s breakthrough success with its premiere window broadcast of Breaking Bad, the channel is increasing its slate of award winning, critically acclaimed programming by acquiring the rights to numerous series and independent films for 2013-2014.

The extensive range of productions announced includes TV premiere rights in Asia to the new Rolling Stones documentary Crossfire Hurricane, as well as Downton Abbey, Monk, The Hour and numerous independent films that have recently been showcased at leading festivals worldwide.

Bruce Tuchman, AMC/Sundance Channel Global President, stated, "After a tremendous amount of distribution growth and success with our original productions such as Breaking Bad, it is the natural next step for us to augment our localization by establishing both creative and distribution headquarters in Asia. With highly experienced personnel and world-class resources on the ground, we will move even closer to our audiences and partners, thereby further accelerating our growth."

In an agreement with Eagle Rock Entertainment, worldwide TV premiere rights for Asia have been secured for the Rolling Stones documentary Crossfire Hurricane (1x120?), which will be seen on HBO in the US. Sundance Channel will premiere the documentary, which features extensive interviews with the band, later this year.

Sundance Channel will premiere the documentary on TVOD to its affiliate partners prior to the linear launch.

AMC/Sundance Channel Global has also acquired the basic cable rights in Malaysia to multiple seasons of critically acclaimed Downton Abbey and Monk from NBCUniversal International Television Distribution. Premiere window rights for the second season of The Hour have been secured via Shine International for Asia.

Numerous films that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year have been acquired from a variety of distributors.

This includes End of Love (for Spain, Dutch speaking Benelux and Malaysia) and Here (France, Spain, Portugal, Dutch speaking Benelux and Asia), and The Imposter (Asia), among others. In addition, rights in Malaysia have been acquired to premiere Teddy Bear and Safety Not Guaranteed.