For Anglophiles and mystery lovers uninterested in The Super Bowl, Acorn TV, the first U.S. streaming service focused on Brit TV, is offering a fun alternative with a “Foyle’s War Marathon.” One of the most critically-acclaimed and popular British television series of all time, Foyle’s War has been called “Like a gift from the gods” (The New York Times), “A triumph from start to finish”(The Wall Street Journal), and “One of the best mysteries you’ll ever see on the telly”(San Francisco Chronicle). Acorn TV will be streaming all 22 feature-length episodes (DVD Sets 1-6) beginning Friday, February 3rd through Sunday, February 5th. The first episode of the series is available for free and access to all 22 episodes is available to Premium subscribers.
For just $24.99 a year, Acorn TV offers full seasons of critically acclaimed, classic and contemporary British series to watch online. Each of the 10 seasons stay up for five weeks, with two new series added each week and two removed. Streaming now are Downton Abbey precursor and iconic 1970s series UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS; Russell T Davies’ 1920s period drama THE GRAND; Masterpiece Theatre favorite POLDARK; Derek Jacobi in CADFAEL; smash hit detective series’ Agatha Christie’s POIROT and MIDSOMER MURDERS; among others. The first episode of each series is free. For press access to the full 70+ hours of weekly programming plus this weekend’s Foyle’s War Marathon, please contact me. Site: acornonline.com/TV
Combining uncompromising historical accuracy with compelling, character-driven murder mysteries, FOYLE’S WAR is a WWII detective series starring Michael Kitchen as DCS Christopher Foyle, a police investigator in the British coastal community of Hastings during WWII. The series is created and written by Anthony Horowitz, the most prolific and successful writer in the UK. He wrote the new Sherlock Holmes novel, “House of Silk,” as well as episodes of Agatha Christie’s Poirot, Midsomer Murders, and Robin of Sherwood). Foyle’s War premiered on ITV in the U.K. in October 2002 and PBS in February 2003.
Additional Foyle’s War praise:
“Excellent World War II detective series” —The New York Times
“Superb ITV mystery series” —NPR
“For mystery fans, Foyle is a must see. Grade: A”—The Houston Chronicle
“Splendid…The cases are delightfully intriguing…Don't miss ‘Foyle's War’—Associated Press
“Excellent…literate, thoughtful, yet suspensefully provocative period crime drama” —TV Guide
"Brilliantly explores the moral gray areas of war"—San Francisco Chronicle
“What makes the whole thing irresistible is Michael Kitchen's enthralling performance as Foyle, who, in his reticence, sly humor and triumphant decency, is our fantasy of the ideal Englishman.” —NPR Fresh Air
“Arguably the best television detective drama since Prime Suspect” —PopMatters
Acorn TV is accessible on computers, iPhones, iPads, Apple TV and Google TV. It is also available on any portable device with a browser that runs Flash 10 or higher, with additional devices and applications to be offered within the next year.
Launched in July 2011, Acorn TV is the first streaming service that curates the best of British television for American audiences. The press releases on its launch and expansion are posted at www.acornmedia.com
###
Acorn/Athena DVD Calendar
January 31: Agatha Christie’s Poirot, Series 1 and 2 (Blu-ray debut, DVD) and Poldark: The Complete Collection
February 7: Northern Lights: The Complete Collection starring Robson Green (Being Human, Wire in the Blood, Touching Evil) and Mark Benton (Career Girls); BBC’s ongoing, smash hit police series New Tricks, Season 6; and literary family biopic The Brontes of Haworth, starring Michael Kitchen (Foyle’s War, My Week with Marilyn) in one of his early roles.
February 14: Battlefield Detectives (Athena), seen on the History Channel, the series features new scientific insight into historic battles; Robin of Sherwood, Set 2 (Blu-ray debut), history meets myth in a critically acclaimed classic starring Jason Connery (Sean’s son) and Ray Winstone (Indiana Jones 4, The Departed, Sexy Beast); and Shades, a poignant drama about life after death.
February 28: Midsomer Murders, Set 19 (U.S. debut, DVD, Blu-ray debut of series); French Fields Complete Collection, an empty-nester comedy starring Anton Rodgers and Julia McKenzie; and, from the creators of Inspector Morse, The Brief Complete Collection stars Alan Davies (Jonathan Creek) in a seriocomic courtroom drama.
Headquartered in suburban Washington, D.C., Acorn Media U.S. distributes distinctive home video releases to the North American market with a special focus on the best of British TV. 2011 releases included Upstairs, Downstairs: 40th Anniversary, Brideshead Revisited: 30th Anniversary, and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Early 2012 releases include a bonus packed collector’s edition of I, Claudius starring Derek Jacobi; the Blu-ray debuts for the first three series of Agatha Christie’s Poirot; the first Blu-ray of Acorn’s top-selling series with Midsomer Murders, Set 19; the U.S. debut of Lynda La Plante’s Above Suspicion; complete collections of Poldark, The Brief, Northern Lights, and French Fields; and more episodes from Single-Handed, New Tricks, and Murder Investigation Team. Acorn’s DVD sets are available from select retailers, catalog companies, and direct from Acorn Media at (888) 870-8047 or www.acornonline.com.
