Acorn TV

Acorn TV is an American subscription video streaming service offering television programming from the United Kingdom, as well as Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, and Mexico. It is available on a variety of devices including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku.

History

Acorn TV is owned by RLJ Entertainment, Inc.[1] Acorn Media Group has distributed British television in the United States since 1994, originally selling VHS tapes before moving into DVD and Blu-ray media.[2] Continuing the company's expansion into new formats, Acorn TV launched as a subsection of Acorn's direct-to-consumer e-commerce website in 2011.[3] In 2013, Acorn TV was relaunched as a standalone service with expanded content offerings and monthly and annual subscription options.[4] In 2013, the service began offering exclusive content, starting with the United States premiere of Doc Martin, Series 6.[5] In 2015, Acorn TV was the only niche streaming service to have a program nominated for an Emmy when Curtain: Poirot's Last Case was nominated for Outstanding Television Movie.[6] As of December 31, 2016, it had 430,000 paid subscribers.[7][8]

Acorn TV launched in the United Kingdom as a service in its own right on April 29, 2020.[9]

Programming

Acorn TV offers a combination of new and classic mysteries, dramas, comedies, and documentaries. The service licenses content from producers and distributors including ITV, Channel 4, BBC Studios, All3Media, DRG, ZDF, and Content Media.

Original programming

Because its parent company, RLJ Entertainment, has a 64% stake in Agatha Christie Limited, the licensing arm of the Christie estate,[10][11] Acorn TV was able to offer the United States premieres of the final episodes of Agatha Christie's Poirot in summer 2014,[12] BBC co-production Partners in Crime in September 2015,[13] and The Witness for the Prosecution[14] in 2017.

RLJ Entertainment also owns all rights to Foyle's War,[15] allowing Acorn TV to offer the United States premiere of the final season in 2015.[16] Subsequent original series include Agatha Raisin,[17] Close to the Enemy,[18] The Level,[19] Striking Out,[20] Queens of Mystery,[21] Dead Still,[22] and Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries.[23] On October 20, 2020, it was announced that the series Dalgliesh will premiere in 2021.[24]

United States premieres

Since its launch, Acorn TV has offered the United States premieres of some or all seasons of British series including Detectorists,[25] Vera,[26] Inspector George Gently,[27] and Midsomer Murders.[28] After initially focusing exclusively on programming from the United Kingdom, Acorn TV expanded its content offering to include programs from other territories, including Australia's A Place to Call Home,[29] Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries,[30] Jack Irish,[31] and Janet King,[32] New Zealand's The Brokenwood Mysteries,[33] the Australian-New Zealand series 800 Words,[34] Canada's Murdoch Mysteries[35] and 19-2,[36] and Ireland's Clean Break and Striking Out.[37][38] In 2015, the service began offering foreign-language dramas.[39] The service also offers a selection of documentaries, including historical, travel, arts, and science titles.

On August 5, 2019, the Australian mystery series My Life Is Murder premiered on Acorn.[40] On September 30, 2020, it was announced that the Irish drama series The South Westerlies premiered on November 9, 2020.[41] On October 27, 2020, it was announced that the miniseries A Suitable Boy will premiere on December 7, 2020.[42]

See also

References
  1. "Acorn TV toasts Agatha Christie with launch of original series". StreamDaily. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  2. Yahr, Emily (November 29, 2011). "Silver Spring-based Acorn Media streams British TV classics". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  3. "Acorn TV streaming British television favorites". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  4. "ACORN TV INCREASES PROGRAMMING AND EXCLUSIVES FOR ITS "BEST BRITISH TV" STREAMING SERVICE". CinemaRetro. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  5. "Brit TV News: Doc Martin Series 6 Set to Premiere on Acorn TV October 7th!". Anglotopia.net. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  6. The New York Times (July 16, 2015). "Emmy Awards 2015: Winners and Nominees". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  7. Szalai, Georg (November 14, 2016). "Robert Johnson's RLJ Entertainment Posts Narrowed Third-Quarter Loss | Hollywood Reporter". The Hollywood Reporter.
  8. Spangler, Todd (January 17, 2017). "British TV Streaming Service Acorn TV Tops 430,000 Subscribers". Variety.
  9. Kanter, Jake (April 2, 2020). "AMC Networks Streamer Acorn TV To Launch In UK This Month". Deadline Hollywood.
  10. "About Agatha Christie Limited". Agathachristie.com.
  11. "BBC One, Lifetime Partner To Remake Agatha Christie's 'And Then There Were None'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  12. "Case Closed: Agatha Christie's Detective Poirot Solves His Last TV Mystery". NPR. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  13. "Murder mysteries abound in exclusive Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime trailer". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  14. "What's New On Acorn TV January 2017: Agatha Christie, 'Murdoch Mysteries', and More". Decider | Where To Stream Movies & Shows on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant, HBO Go. January 1, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  15. Jensen, Elizabeth (March 25, 2012). "Acorn Media Cashing In on British Revivals". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  16. "Understated Detective Wraps It Up". The New York Times. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  17. "Acorn TV Is Doing Originals Now Because There's No Such Thing as Too Many British Shows". Decider. November 4, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  18. Writer, David Hinckley (November 12, 2016). "1946 Acorn Drama Close to the Enemy Weighs Valuable Scientific Assets vs. Nazi War Criminals". The Huffington Post. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  19. Tartaglione, Nancy (April 19, 2016). "Acorn Media Boards ITV Thriller 'The Level' As North American Co-Producer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  20. Tartaglione, Nancy (August 22, 2016). "Acorn Falls For Irish Drama 'Striking Out' In Co-Production Deal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  21. White, Peter (September 6, 2018). "'The Woman In White's Olivia Vinall To Front Acorn TV's Female Detective Drama 'Queens Of Mystery'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  22. Michael Starr, "‘Dead Still’ gives look into creepy world of Victorian-era death photography". The New York Post, May 19, 2020.
  23. Kanter, Jake (July 28, 2020). "'Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries' To Become Acorn TV Original As AMC Streamer Orders Season 2". Deadline Hollywood.
  24. "AMC Networks' Acorn TV and Channel 5 Commission New British Detective Drama "Dalgliesh" from New Pictures". The Futon Critic. October 20, 2020.
  25. Lloyd, Robert (August 25, 2015). "British 'Detectorists' on Acorn TV uncovers a comedy treasure". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  26. "Acorn TV announces the returns of BAFTA-winning comedy DETECTORISTS, Series 2 and British crime drama VERA, Series 6". Broadcasting & Cable. February 24, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  27. McNamara, Mary (May 15, 2014). "TV picks: 'Modern Family,' 'Inspector George Gently,' 'Orphan Black'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  28. O'Keefe, Meghan (June 23, 2015). "'Midsomer Murders': Is Rural England The Most Dangerous Place On Television?". Decider. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  29. Terrero, Nina (April 1, 2015). "'A Place To Call Home': 7 reasons to watch Australia's sexiest period soap". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  30. Holmes, Linda (March 31, 2014). "Essie Davis: On Playing A Sexually Liberated 'Superhero' Without Apology". NPR. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  31. Tucker, Ken (May 2, 2016). "'Jack Irish': The Guy Pearce Comeback You Didn't Know You Wanted". Yahoo! TV. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  32. Tucker, Ken (March 14, 2016). "'Janet King': A Legal Drama With A Striking Star". Yahoo! TV. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  33. Genzlinger, Neil (December 26, 2015). "A Global TV Tour via Streaming: England, Australia and New Zealand". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  34. Hale, Mike (September 5, 2016). "Review: In '800 Words,' a Widowed Father of Teenagers Uproots the Family". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  35. "Blu-ray Review: Murdoch Mysteries, Series 5". Blogcritics. April 13, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  36. Genzlinger, Neil (January 18, 2016). "Review: '19-2,' a Police Drama on Acorn TV, Is a Slow Burn". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  37. "Acorn TV | Clean Break". Acorn TV. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  38. Tartaglione, Nancy (August 22, 2016). "Acorn Falls For Irish Drama 'Striking Out' In Co-Production Deal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  39. "Critics' picks: Romanian TV miniseries 'Umbre' shines". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  40. "Lucy Lawless Stars in Acorn TV's Newest Australian Mystery Series "My Life Is Murder"". The Futon Critic. July 11, 2019.
  41. "Acorn TV's Original Irish Drama Series "The South Westerlies" Makes Exclusive Worldwide Premiere on Monday, November 9". The Futon Critic. September 30, 2020.
  42. "Acorn TV Secures Exclusive U.S. Premiere for BBC Studios' Groundbreaking Period Drama "A Suitable Boy"". The Futon Critic. October 27, 2020.


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