London, 18 September – ITV plc announced today that ITV Worldwide, Granada International, and Granada Ventures will be renamed ITV Global Entertainment Ltd. Led by Peter Iacono, President and Managing Director, ITV Global Entertainment the newly named company acts as ITVs global distribution arm for television, home entertainment, publishing, consumer products and international networks businesses.
Combining the merged Granada International and Granada Ventures businesses, which have until now been referred to as ITV Worldwide, ITV Global Entertainment Ltd distributes thousands of hours of television series, television movies and films from ITV Productions and many other independent producers to more than 200 countries worldwide. Its Consumer Products division has more than 250 licensees throughout 70 countries, and Home Entertainment specialist ITV DVD has already become one of the top 10 DVD suppliers in the UK with a burgeoning international presence. ITV Global Entertainment is part of ITVs Global Content Division which unites all of ITVs UK and international production and content businesses.
The ITV Global Entertainment programme portfolio boasts every possible genre, from highly successful dramas such as Prime Suspect, Lewis, Lost In Austen and the highly anticipated Britannia High; ground-breaking factual entertainment including the award-winning Up series and I Shouldnt Be Alive to hit entertainment and formats such as Im A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Hells Kitchen and Dancing On Ice. Long-running, much-loved dramas such as Coronation Street, Heartbeat and Emmerdale are also included in one of the worlds richest content catalogues.
The company also represents the largest and most prestigious British feature film collection in the world, comprising more than 1,500 titles from the Rank, Rohauer, Romulus and ITC Libraries with iconic titles such as The African Queen, Bugsy Malone and The Ipcress File, as well as brand new programming delivered by production units that are part of ITV including 12 Yard, Shiver, Silverback and Crackit.
Peter Iacono says, Im thrilled to announce our new name. We are proud to be part of the ITV family, we operate all around the world and our fantastically broad range of shows and brands delivers true entertainment to millions of people. With our new multi-disciplined teams in place, applying an innovative 360 philosophy to all parts of our business, we are now extremely well placed to build ITV into a truly global brand.
Lee Bartlett, Managing Director ITV Global Content adds, As we open even more doors through the growth of our own productions and develop our relationships with the independent producers who create must see content, the strength and global outreach of our distribution arm has become even more important to our business. I am delighted to see ITV Global Entertainment Ltd come to life on the international stage.
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Notes to Editors
ITV Global Entertainment Ltd, the international arm for ITVs distribution, TV, publishing, home entertainment, consumer products and international networks businesses, is led by Peter Iacono, President and Managing Director.
Selling thousands of hours of programming from ITV Productions and many other independent producers, to more than 200 countries worldwide and with more than 250 licensees throughout 70 countries, ITV Global Entertainment Ltd is part of ITVs Global Content Division which unites all of ITVs UK and international production and content businesses.