Acorn TV
{{Short description|American subscription video streaming service}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox website
| name = Acorn TV
| logo = Acorn TV logo 2024.svg
| type = OTT platform
| country_of_origin = United Kingdom
| area_served = North America, Western Europe and parts of the Indo-Pacific
| owner = AMC Networks (83%)
RLJ Companies (17%)
| parent = RLJE Films
| url = {{Official URL}}
| registration = Required
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|2011}}
| current_status = Active
}}Acorn TV is a British-American over-the-top VOD streaming service offering television programming from Australia, Canada, other Commonwealth countries, Spain, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. In other countries, it is available on a variety of devices including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast, and Roku. The service is owned by RLJ Entertainment, a joint venture between AMC Networks (who owns a controlling 83% stake) and the RLJ Companies (who owns the remaining 17%).
History
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.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/silver-spring-based-acorn-media-streams-british-tv-classics/2011/11/29/gIQAVUbVLO_story.html |title=Silver Spring-based Acorn Media streams British TV classics |last=Yahr |first=Emily |date=November 29, 2011 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |access-date=March 3, 2016}} 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.{{cite magazine |title=Acorn TV streaming British television favorites |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2011/07/18/acorn-tv-launch |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=February 25, 2016}} In 2013, Acorn TV was relaunched as a standalone service with expanded content offerings and monthly and annual subscription options.{{cite news |title=Acorn TV Increases Programming and Exclusives for its 'Best British TV' Streaming Service |url=http://www.cinemaretro.com/index.php?/archives/7619-ACORN-TV-INCREASES-PROGRAMMING-AND-EXCLUSIVES-FOR-ITS-BEST-BRITISH-TV-STREAMING-SERVICE.html |access-date=February 25, 2016 |publisher=CinemaRetro}} In 2013, the service began offering exclusive content, starting with the United States premiere of Doc Martin, Series 6.{{cite web |url=http://www.anglotopia.net/british-entertainment/brit-tv/brit-tv-news-doc-martin-series-6-set-to-premiere-on-acorn-tv-october-7th/ |title=Brit TV News: Doc Martin Series 6 Set to Premiere on Acorn TV October 7th! |website=Anglotopia.net |date=September 12, 2013 |access-date=March 3, 2016}} 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/17/arts/television/emmy-nominations-2015-list.html |title=Emmy Awards 2015: Winners and Nominees |last=The New York Times |date=July 16, 2015 |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=March 3, 2016}} As of December 31, 2016, it had 430,000 paid subscribers.{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/robert-johnsons-rlj-entertainment-posts-narrowed-third-quarter-loss-946950 |title=Robert Johnson's RLJ Entertainment Posts Narrowed Third-Quarter Loss | Hollywood Reporter |website=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Georg |last=Szalai |date=November 14, 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/acorn-tv-subscribers-growth-2016-1201961448/ |title=British TV Streaming Service Acorn TV Tops 430,000 Subscribers |first=Todd |last=Spangler |work=Variety |date=January 17, 2017}}
Acorn TV launched in the United Kingdom as a service in its own right on April 29, 2020.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/acorn-tv-to-launch-in-uk-1202898517/ |title=AMC Networks streamer Acorn TV to launch in UK this month |first=Jake |last=Kanter |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=April 2, 2020}}
On 24 November 2022, Acorn TV announced without further elaboration that it would no longer be available in South Africa by the end of 2022, and requested that subscribers cancel their memberships.{{cite web |first=Thinus |last=Ferreira |title=Video streaming service Acorn TV shutting down in South Africa after 4 years without explanation, asks users to cancel their subscriptions. |work=TV with Thinus: News & analysis on South African television |url=https://teeveetee.blogspot.com/2022/11/video-streaming-service-acorn-tv.html |publisher=Blogger |location=South Africa |date=24 November 2022 |accessdate=28 November 2022}}{{cite web |first=Hanno |last=Labuschagne |title=Acorn TV video streaming service shutting down in South Africa |work=MyBroadband News |url=https://mybroadband.co.za/news/broadcasting/470877-acorn-tv-video-streaming-service-shutting-down-in-south-africa.html |publisher=MyBroadband |location=Pretoria, South Africa |date=24 November 2022 |accessdate=28 November 2022}} The service previously launched in South Africa from December 2018.{{cite web |title=Another video streaming service launches in SA and it's perfect for fans of British telly |work=News24.com |url=https://www.news24.com/Channel/another-video-streaming-service-launches-in-sa-and-its-perfect-for-fans-of-british-telly-20181213 |publisher=Naspers |location=Cape Town, South Africa |date=13 December 2018 |accessdate=28 November 2022}}{{cite web |first=Thinus |last=Ferreira |title=Video streaming service Acorn TV launches in South Africa and another 29 countries with the best of British telly. |work=TV with Thinus: News & analysis on South African television |url=https://teeveetee.blogspot.com/2018/12/video-streaming-service-acorn-tv.html |publisher=Blogger |location=South Africa |date=12 December 2018 |accessdate=28 November 2022}}
On August 29, 2023, it was announced that Acorn TV would end its services in Portugal as of September 29, 2023.{{cite web |last=Sousa |first=Nuno Pereira de |date=2023-08-29 |title=Acorn TV: termina este serviço de streaming |url=https://bandasdesenhadas.com/2023/08/29/acorn-tv-termina-este-servico-de-streaming/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Bandas Desenhadas |language=pt-PT}}
On December 20, 2023, Acorn TV announced that it would not be available in Latin America after February 6, 2024.{{cite web |first=Martin |last=Pixel |title=Acorn TV se va de México: el servicio de AMC con producciones británicas desaparece y se une a Lionsgate+ y Cinépolis Klic |work=Xataka |url=https://www.xataka.com.mx/streaming/acorn-tv-se-va-mexico-servicio-amc-producciones-britanicas-desaparece-se-une-a-lionsgate-cinepolis-klic |location=Mexico |date=20 December 2023}}
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,{{cite web |url=https://www.agathachristie.com/about-agatha-christie-limited |title=About Agatha Christie Limited |website=Agathachristie.com}}{{cite news |title=BBC One, Lifetime Partner To Remake Agatha Christie's 'And Then There Were None' |url=https://deadline.com/2015/07/bbc-one-lifetime-agatha-christie-and-then-there-were-none-1201475357/ |access-date=February 25, 2016 |work=Deadline Hollywood}} Acorn TV was able to offer the United States premieres of the final episodes of Agatha Christie's Poirot in summer 2014,{{cite news |title=Case Closed: Agatha Christie's Detective Poirot Solves His Last TV Mystery |url=https://www.npr.org/2014/08/13/340092360/case-closed-agatha-christie-s-detective-poirot-solves-his-last-tv-mystery |access-date=February 25, 2016 |publisher=NPR}} BBC co-production Partners in Crime in September 2015,{{cite magazine |title=Murder mysteries abound in exclusive Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime trailer |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/08/10/agatha-christie-partners-crime-exclusive-clip |access-date=February 25, 2016|magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} and The Witness for the Prosecution{{cite web |url=http://decider.com/2017/01/01/whats-new-on-acorn-tv-january-2017-agatha-christie-murdoch-mysteries-and-more/ |title=What's New On Acorn TV January 2017: Agatha Christie, 'Murdoch Mysteries', and More |date=January 1, 2017 |website=Decider {{!}} Where To Stream Movies & Shows on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant, HBO Go |access-date=January 19, 2017}} in 2017.
RLJ Entertainment also owns all rights to Foyle's War,{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/26/business/media/acorn-media-cashing-in-on-british-revivals.html |title=Acorn Media Cashing In on British Revivals |last=Jensen |first=Elizabeth |date=March 25, 2012 |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=March 3, 2016}} allowing Acorn TV to offer the United States premiere of the final season in 2015.{{cite news |title=Understated Detective Wraps It Up |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/02/arts/television/foyles-war-on-acorn-tv-winds-down.html |access-date=February 25, 2016 |work=The New York Times |date=February 2015 |last1=Hale |first1=Mike}} Subsequent original series include Agatha Raisin,{{cite web |url=http://decider.com/2016/11/04/acorn-tv-mark-stevens-interview/ |title=Acorn TV Is Doing Originals Now Because There's No Such Thing as Too Many British Shows |date=November 4, 2016 |website=Decider |access-date=January 19, 2017}} Close to the Enemy,{{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-hinckley/1946-acorn-drama-close-to_b_12935950.html|title=1946 Acorn Drama Close to the Enemy Weighs Valuable Scientific Assets vs. Nazi War Criminals |last=Writer |first=David Hinckley |date=November 12, 2016 |website=The Huffington Post |access-date=January 19, 2017}} The Level,{{cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2016/04/acorn-to-co-produce-the-level-acquires-north-america-itv-1201740095/ |title=Acorn Media Boards ITV Thriller 'The Level' As North American Co-Producer |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=April 19, 2016 |newspaper=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US |access-date=January 19, 2017}} Striking Out,{{cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2016/08/acorn-striking-out-co-production-irish-drama-series-1201806813/ |title=Acorn Falls For Irish Drama 'Striking Out' In Co-Production Deal |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=August 22, 2016 |newspaper=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US |access-date=January 19, 2017}} Queens of Mystery,{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Peter |title='The Woman In White's Olivia Vinall To Front Acorn TV's Female Detective Drama 'Queens Of Mystery' |url=https://deadline.com/2018/09/olivia-vinall-queens-of-mystery-1202458162/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=April 13, 2019 |date=September 6, 2018}} Dead Still,Michael Starr, [https://nypost.com/2020/05/19/dead-still-gives-look-into-weird-creepy-world-of-death-photography/ "‘Dead Still’ gives look into creepy world of Victorian-era death photography"]. The New York Post, May 19, 2020. and Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/ms-fishers-modern-murder-mysteries-acorn-tv-orders-season-two-1202996709/ |title='Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries' To Become Acorn TV Original As AMC Streamer Orders Season 2 |first=Jake |last=Kanter |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=July 28, 2020}} On October 20, 2020, it was announced that the series Dalgliesh will premiere in 2021.{{cite web |title=AMC Networks' Acorn TV and Channel 5 Commission New British Detective Drama "Dalgliesh" from New Pictures |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2020/10/20/amc-networks-acorn-tv-and-channel-5-commission-new-british-detective-drama-dalgliesh-from-new-pictures-134311/20201020acorntv01/ |work=The Futon Critic |date=October 20, 2020}}
= United States premieres =
Since its launch, Acorn TV has offered the United States premieres of some or all seasons of British series including Detectorists,{{cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Robert |date=August 25, 2015 |title=British 'Detectorists' on Acorn TV uncovers a comedy treasure |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-detectorists-interview-20150824-column.html |access-date=March 3, 2016 |website=Los Angeles Times}} Vera,{{cite web |date=February 24, 2016 |title=Acorn TV announces the returns of BAFTA-winning comedy DETECTORISTS, Series 2 and British crime drama VERA, Series 6 |url=https://www.nexttv.com/post-type-the-wire/acorn-tv-announces-returns-bafta-winning-comedy-detectorists-series-2-and-british-crime-drama-vera-series-6-154070 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |website=Broadcasting & Cable}} Inspector George Gently,{{cite web |last=McNamara |first=Mary |date=May 15, 2014 |title=TV picks: 'Modern Family,' 'Inspector George Gently,' 'Orphan Black' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-0515-tv-picks-modern-family-inspector-george-gently-orphan-black-20140515-column.html |access-date=March 3, 2016 |website=Los Angeles Times}} and Midsomer Murders.{{cite web |last=O'Keefe |first=Meghan |date=June 23, 2015 |title='Midsomer Murders': Is Rural England The Most Dangerous Place On Television? |url=http://decider.com/2015/06/23/midsomer-murders-dangerous-england/ |access-date=March 3, 2016 |website=Decider}} 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,{{cite magazine |last=Terrero |first=Nina |date=April 1, 2015 |title='A Place To Call Home': 7 reasons to watch Australia's sexiest period soap |url=https://ew.com/article/2015/04/01/place-call-home-australia-sexiest-period-soap/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=March 3, 2016}} Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries,{{cite web |last=Holmes |first=Linda |date=March 31, 2014 |title=Essie Davis: On Playing A Sexually Liberated 'Superhero' Without Apology |url=https://www.npr.org/2014/03/31/297126077/essie-davis-on-playing-a-sexually-liberated-superhero-without-apology |access-date=March 3, 2016 |website=NPR}} Jack Irish,{{cite web |last=Tucker |first=Ken |date=May 2, 2016 |title='Jack Irish': The Guy Pearce Comeback You Didn't Know You Wanted |url=https://www.yahoo.com/tv/jack-irish-guy-pearce-acorn-tv-174559541.html |access-date=January 19, 2017 |website=Yahoo! TV |language=en-US}} and Janet King,{{cite web |last=Tucker |first=Ken |date=March 14, 2016 |title='Janet King': A Legal Drama With A Striking Star |url=https://www.yahoo.com/tv/janet-king-marta-dusseldorp-acorn-tv-184211830.html |access-date=January 19, 2017 |website=Yahoo! TV |language=en-US}} New Zealand's The Brokenwood Mysteries,{{cite web |last=Genzlinger |first=Neil |date=December 26, 2015 |title=A Global TV Tour via Streaming: England, Australia and New Zealand |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/26/arts/television/netflix-foreign-streaming-shows-acorn-holiday.html |access-date=March 3, 2016 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}} the Australian-New Zealand series 800 Words,{{cite web |last=Hale |first=Mike |date=September 5, 2016 |title=Review: In '800 Words,' a Widowed Father of Teenagers Uproots the Family |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/05/arts/television/review-in-800-words-a-widowed-father-of-teenagers-uproots-the-family.html |access-date=January 19, 2017 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}} Canada's Murdoch Mysteries{{cite web |date=April 13, 2013 |title=Blu-ray Review: Murdoch Mysteries, Series 5 |url=http://blogcritics.org/blu-ray-review-murdoch-mysteries-series/ |access-date=March 3, 2016 |website=Blogcritics}} and 19-2,{{cite web |last=Genzlinger |first=Neil |date=January 18, 2016 |title=Review: '19-2,' a Police Drama on Acorn TV, Is a Slow Burn |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/18/arts/television/review-19-2-a-police-drama-on-acorn-tv-is-a-slow-burn.html |access-date=March 3, 2016 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}} and Ireland's Clean Break and Striking Out.{{cite web |title=Acorn TV {{!}} Clean Break |url=https://acorn.tv/cleanbreak |access-date=February 5, 2017 |website=Acorn TV |archive-date=February 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206103825/https://acorn.tv/cleanbreak |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=August 22, 2016 |title=Acorn Falls For Irish Drama 'Striking Out' In Co-Production Deal |url=https://deadline.com/2016/08/acorn-striking-out-co-production-irish-drama-series-1201806813/ |access-date=February 5, 2017 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} In 2015, the service began offering foreign-language dramas.{{cite web |title=Critics' picks: Romanian TV miniseries 'Umbre' shines |url=http://www.star-telegram.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article48788910.html |access-date=March 3, 2016 |website=Fort Worth Star-Telegram}} The service also offers a selection of documentaries, including historical, travel, arts, and science titles.
On August 5, 2019, the Australian-New Zealand mystery series My Life Is Murder{{cite web |last=Bundel |first=Ani |date=2022-09-13 |title='My Life is Murder' Season 3 to Premiere in October |url=https://tellyvisions.org/article/my-life-murder-season-3-premiere-october |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=Telly Visions |language=en}} premiered on Acorn.{{cite web |date=July 11, 2019 |title=Lucy Lawless Stars in Acorn TV's Newest Australian Mystery Series "My Life Is Murder" |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2019/07/11/lucy-lawless-stars-in-acorn-tvs-newest-australian-mystery-series-my-life-is-murder-806011/20190711acorntv01/ |website=The Futon Critic}} On September 30, 2020, it was announced that the Irish drama series The South Westerlies{{cite web |last=Gomez |first=Adrian |date=2020-11-12 |title=Living a lie: 'The South Westerlies' explores consequences of deception |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/1517068/living-a-lie.html |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=www.abqjournal.com}} premiered on November 9, 2020.{{cite web |date=September 30, 2020 |title=Acorn TV's Original Irish Drama Series "The South Westerlies" Makes Exclusive Worldwide Premiere on Monday, November 9 |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2020/09/30/acorn-tvs-original-irish-drama-series-the-south-westerlies-makes-exclusive-worldwide-premiere-on-monday-november-9-35013/20200930acorntv01/ |website=The Futon Critic}} On October 27, 2020, it was announced that the miniseries A Suitable Boy will premiere on December 7, 2020.{{cite web |date=October 27, 2020 |title=Acorn TV Secures Exclusive U.S. Premiere for BBC Studios' Groundbreaking Period Drama "A Suitable Boy" |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2020/10/27/acorn-tv-secures-exclusive-us-premiere-for-bbc-studios-groundbreaking-period-drama-a-suitable-boy-471505/20201027acorntv01/ |website=The Futon Critic}}
See also
References
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