This is a major coup for Acorn TV.
The North American streaming service has secured the exclusive U.S. streaming rights to the upcoming fifth season of BBC One’s Line Of Duty in a deal with Kew Media Distribution. They replace Hulu as the U.S. home to Jed Mercurio’s thriller.
“We’re delighted that Acorn TV will be the new home of Line of Duty in the States, and pleased that Season 5 will transmit concurrently with the BBC”, Mercurio said in a statement. “No spoilers!”
Created by Jed Mercurio, Line Of Duty follows police anti-corruption unit AC-12. The drama series is produced by World Productions and stars Vicky McClure, Martin Compston, Adrian Dunbar, Maya Sondhi, Polly Walker, Aiysha Hart, Tony Pitts and Andrea Irvine. Mercurio is the showrunner and serves as an executive producer alongside Simon Heath and Priscilla Parish for World Productions, and Tommy Bulfin for BBC One. Production is underway in Belfast, Norther Ireland, ahead of a 2019 premiere.
Plot details about season five are being kept under wraps, but it will follow AC-12 on a new case nearly two years on from the events of season four. Stephen Graham (Boardwalk Empire), Rochenda Sandall (Girlfriends), Taj Atwal (Stella), Richard Pepple (Motherland), Susan Vidler (The Coroner), Sian Reese-Williams (Hidden), Ace Bhatti (No Offence) and Elizabeth Rider (Doctor Foster) are joining the cast for season five
Acorn TV has been on a tear of late. In addition to poaching the U.S. rights to Line Of Duty, the streaming service, via the UK based Acorn Media Enterprises, has been making a major push into originals. They started down that path with a second season order for Agatha Raisin after it was cancelled by original commissioning broadcaster Sky One (who last month in an about-face, acquired the new season). Other scripted originals in the pipe-line include London Kills and Queens Of Mystery.
“Acorn TV continues to rapidly grow and remains the go-to destination for the very best in British television as exemplified in our newest acquisition. Line of Duty has always been one of our favorite British thrillers as creator Jed Mercurio and World Productions continue to deliver nail-biting cliffhangers with every new season”, said Don Klees, Vice President of Programming for Acorn brands at RLJ Entertainment. “Given Season 4’s huge success on BBC One as one of the top-rated UK programs of 2017, Acorn TV has secured a major coup in acquiring the exclusive U.S. premiere of Season 5 from our friends at Kew Media Distribution. With the addition of Season 4 on November 26, we’re excited for our subscribers to catch-up on the latest season as we await new episodes in 2019.”
