NEW YORK, NY – January 24, 2019 – First it was a #1 New York Times Best Seller. Then it was Sky One’s biggest drama of 2018, nominated for a National Television Award in the U.K. Now “A Discovery of Witches,” has charmed audiences in the U.S. and Canada in record-breaking numbers on AMC Networks’ Sundance Now and Shudder, after all eight episodes premiered simultaneously on both services last week.
The debut of “A Discovery of Witches” smashed Sundance Now records for total video plays, with 30x increase in the streams of any previous premiere during its first week a record number of minutes streamed. In all, “A Discovery of Witches” accounted for more than half of all streaming activity on the platform.
The series was also a monster hit in its Shudder debut, accounting for more minutes streamed than any on-demand film or series premiere in the service’s history.
In anticipation of “A Discovery of Witches,” total subscribers to Sundance Now alone increased by nearly 30% since the start of the January. The week ending January 20 saw the largest number of new subscriptions, almost than double the number added in any previous week.
“We knew ‘A Discovery of Witches’ was a fantastic and special series when we acquired it last year, but the passion and enthusiasm of its avid fans has surpassed even our most optimistic projections,” said Linda Pan, Senior Vice President of New Digital Businesses for AMC Networks. “It was a rare opportunity to launch the show on two services simultaneously, but it’s proven to be a hit on both platforms.”
“A Discovery of Witches” “potently mixes sensuality and the supernatural,” according to TV Guide, while the Los Angeles Times dubs it “elegant and satisfying” and Uproxx deems it “a wickedly good show that elevates itself from its genre predecessors.”
Based on the bestselling and critically-acclaimed novel of the same name by Deborah Harkness, “A Discovery of Witches” stars Emmy® nominated actor Matthew Goode (“The Crown,” “Downton Abbey”), Teresa Palmer (Hacksaw Ridge), Alex Kingston (“ER,” “Doctor Who”), Valarie Pettiford (“Being Mary Jane”) and Owen Teale (“Game of Thrones”). The eight-episode drama is an enchanting modern-day love story set against the backdrop of Oxford academic life. Historian Diana Bishop (Palmer), a reluctant witch denying her heritage, accidently discovers a long-lost bewitched manuscript in Oxford’s Bodleian Library, and is immediately thrown into the heart of a dangerous underworld. On her journey, she finds herself tossed into the path of enigmatic vampire and geneticist, Matthew Clairmont (Goode), who hides a dark family secret.
Second and third seasons of “A Discovery of Witches” have been announced for Sky, Sundance Now and Shudder. Season two is expected to begin production later this year.
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About Sundance Now:
Sundance Now is AMC Networks’ premium streaming service, offering original and exclusive dramas, comedies, and true crime series, in addition to award-winning movies from every genre, including foreign-language and documentary features – all streaming commercial-free. Built on the Sundance legacy and curated by acclaimed filmmakers and cultural icons, Sundance Now is proud to present an extensive array of entertainment for a passionate and intellectually curious audience.
Sundance Now is available in the US, Canada, and Germany on most streaming devices for 6.99/month or 59.99/year. To stream SUNDANCE NOW commitment-free for 7 days, visit www.sundancenow.com
Facebook/ Instagram/ YouTube: @SundanceNow; Twitter: @sundance_now
About Shudder:
AMC Networks’ SHUDDER is a premium streaming video service, super-serving fans of all degrees with the best selection in genre entertainment, covering thrillers, suspense, and horror. SHUDDER’s expanding library of film, TV series, and originals is available in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, and Germany on most streaming devices for 4.99/month or 49.99/year. To experience SHUDDER commitment-free for 7 days, visit www.shudder.com.
Facebook/ Twitter/ Instagram/ YouTube: @shudder