Press Release
AMC Networks International - Zone will rebrand the MGM Channel as AMC from 1st December across sub-Saharan Africa. The African launch is part of the global rollout of AMC, one of the most popular and award-winning brands in television. Alongside the English language linear TV channel we will offer AMC VOD, and “TV Everywhere” services to multiple devices. AMC will launch with platform partners DStv, StarSat, Zuku and Azam TV.
AMC has showcased some of the most critically acclaimed and award-winning dramas on U.S. television over the past decade, including
The Walking Dead,
Mad Men and
Breaking Bad.
It will offer exclusive original series from AMC Studios, including the upcoming premiere of
The Divide, a gritty legal thriller centered on a sensational murder case and
Game of Arms, an unscripted series exploring the highly competitive world of American arm-wrestling. The channel will also feature acclaimed movies from some of the world’s biggest film libraries including the MGM library.
Louise Cottrell, VP, Affiliate Sales for AMC Networks International - Zone, stated: “AMC has made a name for itself as the purveyor of premium quality dramatic television in the US where it is watched in 98 million households.
"With the introduction of AMC to the African market, our aim is to satisfy the local audience’s growing appetite for high-quality international content including original series as well as a wide selection of popular Hollywood movies.”
The Divide
The eight-episode series is written by the Academy Award® and Emmy® nominated Richard LaGravenese (
Behind the Candelabra, The Fisher King, Water for Elephants, The Ref, The Bridges of Madison County), with Tony Goldwyn (
Scandal, Conviction, Justified, Damages, Dexter, A Walk on the Moon) directing the premiere episode. Co-created by LaGravenese and Goldwyn, the series is produced by AMC studios.
The Divide is a thought-provoking and suspenseful drama that explores the personal cost of morality, ambition, ethics, politics, and race in today's justice system through the eyes of Christine Rosa played by Marin Ireland (
Homeland, Boss, Side Effects), an impassioned caseworker with The Innocence Initiative, and Adam Page played by Damon Gupton (
The Newsroom, Prime Suspect), an equally passionate district attorney and political rising star.
LaGravenese and Goldwyn also serve as executive producers along with Emmy® award winner John Tinker (
The Practice, Chicago Hope) as the showrunner, and co-executive producer, Andrew Sugarman (
Shopgirl, Conviction).
The Divide premieres on 5
th January, 20:00 CAT, with new episodes every week throughout January/February.
Game of Arms
AMC’s unscripted series
Game of Arms is a look inside the raw world of American arm wrestling. The series follows the members of five regional arm wrestling clubs in Erie, PA, Kansas City, KS, New York, NY, Sacramento, CA and Baton Rouge, LA.
Game of Arms not only focuses on the technique and skill in this high-stakes world, but also the family, careers and personal struggles of each man outside of the sport. Each episode features a dramatic regional match, leading to a tournament finale where the entire cast will compete for prize money and bragging rights.
The series hails from Matt Renner and Ethan Prochnik, the Emmy® Award-winning producers of
Deadliest Catch, and executive producer Dan Ilani, their partner in Undertow Films.
Game of Arms premieres on 2
nd December @ 20:00 CAT, with new episodes through to 16
th December. After the Christmas break, a GAME OF ARMS triple-bill on Saturday, 3
rd January gives viewers the chance to catch-up with all the action so far, before new episodes start again on 6
th January.