News
| Mon Jan 10, 2005 Program Partners Hits the Streets with Canada's Top Drama Series, Da Vinci's Inquest, and Signs Global Distribution Agreement with Vancouver-Based Thunderbird Films | |
| Da Vinci's Inquest, Popular Canadian Drama Series, to be Launched at NATPE 2005 LOS ANGELES, CA January 10, 2005 - In a move to expand its series and movie offerings in the U.S. and world television markets, Program Partners, a leading global production and distribution company, has signed a worldwide distribution agreement with Vancouver-based Thunderbird Films, Inc., producers, distributors and financiers of acclaimed television and film projects. Da Vinci's Inquest, now in its seventh season on the CBC and perhaps the most-honored series in the history of Canadian television, will be the first project to hit the launching pad. Program Partners' Ritch Colbert and Josh Raphaelson, along with Thunderbird Films' Tim Gamble and Michael Shepard, are executing a comprehensive marketing campaign to target specific television outlets in the U.S., where the full slate of 91 one-hour episodes of Da Vinci's Inquest will be available beginning in 2005. Program Partners and Thunderbird will also bring Da Vinci's Inquest to the 2005 NATPE conference in Las Vegas in January. Television distribution veterans Colbert and Raphaelson set up Program Partners two years ago. The company's founding philosophy has been to target the most successful formats in television with fresh new vehicles that have the highest quality production values. Program Partners will utilize this comprehensive affiliation with Thunderbird films to offer the best in Canadian programming to the world's television buyers. "The phenomenal success of procedural dramas on American television, including both the CSI and Law & Order franchises affirms our belief that Da Vinci's Inquest is the right show at the right time for the U.S. market," says Colbert of Program Partners. "It's an incredibly well-written dramatic series that offers compelling stories and engaging characters and a payoff in every episode. I think America's television viewers, like their counterparts around the globe, will be huge fans of Da Vinci's Inquest." Added Thunderbird Films' founding partner Tim Gamble: "Canadian series today are more successful on U.S. television than ever before. Americans are hungry for intriguing dramatic series that can simultaneously stretch the mind and entertain. Da Vinci's Inquest is definitely a fresh and invigorating procedural crime drama, and it comes with an already established and impressive record of success." Da Vinci's Inquest follows the charismatic, controversial and mercurial Coroner Dominic Da Vinci (played by Nicholas Campbell) as he works with homicide detectives, forensic investigators and pathologists to solve the mysteries of unnatural, accidental or suspicious deaths that occur in the streets and back alleys, boardrooms and bedrooms of the city. Created by writer Chris Haddock (MacGyver), Da Vinci's Inquest is widely regarded as one of the best Canadian dramas ever produced and has earned a multitude of awards. The series has been nominated for 60 Gemini awards, winning Best Dramatic Series for a remarkable six years in a row. The series was also recently awarded the 2004 Directors Guild of Canada's Outstanding Team Achievement in a Television Series - Drama and Outstanding Achievement in Directing, and, for the past five consecutive years, the Writers Guild of Canada Award. About Program Partners, Inc. Venice, California-based Program Partners, Inc. collaborates with networks, sponsors and audiences in the development and distribution of original entertainment properties. Its core group of entertainment executives, led by Ritch Colbert and Josh Raphaelson, are accomplished in series development and delivery, as well as worldwide program distribution. Focused on innovative programs with high production values, Program Partners has aligned itself with Thunderbird Films to extend its success in bringing top Canadian productions to the world marketplace. Program Partners' offerings include Animal Miracles with Alan Thicke, the #1 series in daytime on Animal Planet; the feature film Desolation Sound, starring Jennifer Beals and Ed Begley, Jr.; Campus Vets, Disaster Dogs and Love It or Lose It from The Eyes and Legends of Hockey from Network Entertainment. For more information on Program Partners, Inc., visit www.programpartners.com About Thunderbird Films, Inc. Vancouver-based Thunderbird Films, Inc. is recognized around the globe as a producer, distributor and financier of high quality television and films. Thunderbird Films' founding partners - Tim Gamble, Michael Shepard and - have been responsible for internationally acclaimed scripted drama and action series, award winning theatrical features and movies-of-the-week produced for and aired on every major U.S. network as well as on major broadcast and cable outlets around the globe. Thunderbird Film's commitment to high production values and its unique focus on global, high-value territories for distribution as well as the economical benefits of its British Columbian location have distinguished the company among its competitors in the world marketplace. For more information on Thunderbird Films, visit www.thunderbirdfilms.net. To download high-resolution Da Vinci's Inquest artwork, click here: http://istorage.iomega.com/file.asp?ID=tG+4c+dQUV2paWE1bEQsK4nYbkmNoY70zUDBSO0gYjm2woh6/ElV1A==url # # # Media Contact: Kristien Brada-Thompson / Pryor & Associates (818) 338-3555; kristien@pryorpr.com | |
