Disney+ and ITVX Strike Deal to Bring ‘Extraordinary’ and ‘Under the Banner of Heaven’ to UK Viewers
Disney+ has finalized an agreement with ITVX, a streaming service in the United Kingdom, to license some of its series.
Two prominent shows, “Extraordinary” and “Under the Banner of Heaven,” are scheduled to debut on ITVX, operated by ITV, a leading British broadcaster, during the first six months of 2024. Additionally, “Extraordinary” will be aired on the ITV2 channel.
Despite this new arrangement, both series will remain accessible on Disney+.
“Extraordinary,” a unique series from Disney+ in the UK, features Máiréad Tyers, Jen, as the central character. Emma Moran, also a co-executive producer, penned the series, while Sally Woodward Gentle of “Killing Eve” fame served as an executive producer. A second season is already in the pipeline at Disney+ and is expected to be released early in the upcoming year.
Starring Andrew Garfield and Daisy Edgar-Jones, “Under the Banner of Heaven” is another notable series created by Academy Award-winning writer Dustin Lance Black, known for “Milk.” The series draws inspiration from Jon Krakauer’s true crime book, focusing on the 1984 murder of Brenda Wright Lafferty (portrayed by Edgar-Jones) and her child in Salt Lake Valley.
This deal, spearheaded by ITV’s Sasha Breslau, head of content acquisitions, reflects a major shift in Disney’s approach to streaming distribution.
Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger, has emphasized the intention to revive traditional distribution models since his return partly. This strategy involves premiering movies in cinemas and licensing TV shows to various broadcasters, moving away from exclusive streaming on their platform.
Iger noted in a February earnings call that despite the growing future of streaming, it has yet to match the profitability of traditional linear models that the company relied on for decades.
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