ITV agrees rights deal with NBC Universal

[dutchman]

ITV has agreed an exclusive licensing deal with NBC Universal Television Distribution for access to a range of new and library TV shows and films.

Under the deal, a raft of NBC Universal's new movies will make their TV premiere in the UK on ITV's family of channels - ITV1, ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4.

Forthcoming movie highlights include Mamma Mia, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, The Boat That Rocked, Hot Fuzz and The Bourne Ultimatum.

The deal will also see detective drama Monk joining ITV1 daytime, and a further run of classic cop series Ironside airing on ITV3.

"This is a landmark deal encompassing hundreds of feature films for the entire ITV family of channels," said ITV's director digital channels and acquisitions Zai Bennett.

"With titles ranging from the free TV premiere of Mamma Mia to Public Enemies and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, NBC Universal's feature films are a perfect fit with ITV and we're delighted to be continuing our long relationship with the studio."

NBC Universal International Television Distribution president Belinda Menendez added: "We couldn't be happier to build upon our longstanding and successful relationship with ITV.

"They have been terrific collaborators in the UK and are masters at promoting NBC Universal titles to a very broad audience."