27 February, 2009
London, 25th February 2009 –Fireworks International, the television and digital programming distribution arm of ContentFilm plc, today announced the sale of its hit primetime drama series THE BORDER, to US cable network channel ION.
The deal will see the show debut on ION later this year. This follows the recent premiere of THE BORDER on FX in the UK earlier this year and acquisitions in territories including Italy, Germany, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, South Korea, Sweden, Estonia, Bulgaria, and South Africa.
THE BORDER is an action-packed, hard-driving crime drama series that follows the members of the elite Immigration and Customs Security Unit as they tackle the most dangerous and serious border security issues, from terrorist threats and drug smuggling, to trafficking in illegal organs and underage brides, to corporate and international espionage.
The critically-acclaimed drama, produced in high definition, and with strong, topical stories, brings a cool lens to the grit of urban life. The drama series stars James McGowan (All the Good Ones Are Married) as head of the Canadian Immigration and Customs Security team, American actress Sofia Milos of CSI Miami as the U.S. Homeland Security liaison, Graham Abbey (Till Death Do Us Part), Mark Wilson (Blue Murder), Jim Codrington (Queer As Folk), Jonas Chernick (The Eleventh Hour), Nazneen Contractor (Relic Hunter) and Catherine Disher (X-Men).
Grace Park of Battlestar Galactica fame joins the series as smart and ambitious security agent Liz Carver in season two.
THE BORDER, now commissioned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for its third season, recently scooped two prestigious Gemini Awards with ten nominations including Best Dramatic Series, Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role (James McGowan), Best Performance by a Supporting Actor (Jonas Chernick) and Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Catherine Disher).
Melissa Wohl, Senior Vice-President at Fireworks International, added, “We are delighted to have placed The Border with ION in the US. ION is a great home for strong dramas and the show is in excellent hands and company. This significant deal reflects the tremendous global success of this award-winning series.”
Peter Raymont, Executive Producer and Co-Creator. President, White Pine Pictures “We are delighted that “The Border” will now be available to 94 million Americans via ION. The Age of Obama brings with it a host of new international security challenges our crack team must tackle along our virtual and physical border.”
The series is a White Pines Pictures Production produced in association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
About Fireworks International
Fireworks International is ContentFilm’s international television distribution division with over 3,000 hours of high-quality and commercially appealing programming including an extensive slate of major drama series, factual entertainment, kids live action comedy and drama series, TV movies, mini-series and special event programming. Recent additions include hit drama series, THE WILD ROSES, crime thriller series, THE BORDER and heart-warming family drama series, HEARTLAND; BLOOD TIES, twenty-two hours of mystery drama with more than a touch of the supernatural; brand new U.S. tween comedy THE ASSISTANTS; Mondo Media’s MONDO MINI SHOWS catalogue featuring a raft of offbeat comedy programming; children’s programmes HALF MOON INVESTIGATIONS, FAMILY BIZ and ROBOTECH; plus over 200 U.S. network mini-series and TV movies; and specials including the Annual U.S. PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS shows. This new product is combined with the large and valuable Fireworks library catalogue which is complemented by a raft of formidable television shows including Gene Roddenberry’s ANDROMEDA, MUTANT X and RELIC HUNTER.
About White Pine Pictures
White Pine Pictures is an independent Canadian film, television, and new media production company based in Toronto, Canada. Helmed by award-winning filmmaker, Peter Raymont, the company is recognized internationally as a high quality, boutique production house with a solid reputation for compelling visual styles and depth of content. White Pine Pictures prides itself on its longtime relationships with Canadian talent and key industry players across the globe. White Pine has produced over 100 films, including the Emmy award-winning documentary feature Shake Hands With The Devil: The Journey of Romeo Dallaire, the Oscar-shortlisted A Promise to the Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman, and Triage: Dr. James Orbinski’s Humanitarian Dilemma.
About ION Television
ION Television (www.iontelevision.com) is a general entertainment network which reaches over 94 million U.S. television households via its nationwide broadcast television, cable and satellite distribution systems. Launched in 2006, ION Television features popular TV series and movies from the award-winning libraries of RHI Entertainment, CBS Television, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures Television, Twentieth Television and Warner Bros. Parent company, ION Media Networks, Inc., owns and operates the nation’s largest broadcast television station group. Using its digital multicasting capability, ION Media Networks has launched the digital TV brands Qubo, a channel for children focusing on literacy and values, and ION Life, a channel dedicated to active living and personal growth. It also has launched Open Mobile Ventures Corporation (OMVION), a business unit focused on the research and development of portable, mobile and out-of-home transmission technology using over-the-air digital television spectrum. For more information, visit www.ionmedia.com.
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