First Original Movie Under Leadership Of General Manager Kim Martin
"Charles & Camilla: Whatever Love Means"
Profiles The Early Relationship
Of The Royal Newlyweds
New York, NY, October 3, 2005 – WE: Women's Entertainment announced today that it is teaming with UK-based production company, Granada International, to produce a new original movie, "Charles & Camilla: Whatever Love Means." The movie, premiering on WE on Saturday, December 3, 2005, profiles the love affair of British heir Prince Charles and his new bride, Mrs. Camilla Parker Bowles. The movie will air as part of WE's Royal Treatment Weekend, December 2-4 th.
This marks the first original movie for WE: Women's Entertainment under the leadership of new General Manager Kim Martin and signifies the evolution of the network's programming direction. During her short tenure, Kim has lead the network to record ratings, increased the network's original programming offerings by 30% year over year, and embarked on the network's first-ever live programming.
"This is the natural progression of WE's original programming," said Kim Martin, Executive Vice President and General Manager of WE: Women's Entertainment. "On the heels of airing live coverage of the royal wedding, we welcome the opportunity to tell our viewers the story of Charles and Camilla's love affair. We know royal programming is popular with our viewers, and an original movie complements our already stellar line up of series, specials and documentaries, as well as popular movies. This movie also provides our cable affiliates with a valuable marketing and promotional vehicle."
"We are very pleased to be working with WE: Women's Entertainment, one of the most popular cable channels in the US," said Caroline Torrance, SVP Sales Americas and Southern Hemisphere at Granada International. "We are confident that Whatever Love Means will appeal to their viewers and we look forward to future co-productions with the network."
The WE original movie, Charles & Camilla: Whatever Love Means, captures the early years of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles relationship. Covering the time before and leading up to his marriage to Diana, the movie reveals surprising facts about the couple's early relationship, including Camilla's role in choosing Diana as Charles' first wife. From their original meeting in 1970, through their on-off relationship, to their final conversation the morning of his wedding, Charles & Camilla: Whatever Love Means gives an in-depth look at an intimate relationship that was possibly the worst kept secret in England.
Laurence Fox (Colditz and Island At War) and Olivia Poulet (The Rotters Club) have been cast as Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles.
WE's Royal Treatment Weekend is a marathon of movies, miniseries and WE original series and specials with a royal theme. They seem a world away but the royal families of Europe have been a part of American lives for years. They may seem to have everything but in reality, how different are these families from the common citizen. WE addresses viewers royal fascination with three days of programming dedicated to the trials and tribulations of European aristocracy. Weekend programs include "Diana: Her True Story", "Royal Families of the World", "Harry: The Mysterious Prince" and "Fergie & Andrew: Behind the Palace Doors".
WE has experienced ratings success with royal-themed programming. WE's live coverage of the royal wedding day included the one-hour special "Charles and Camilla's Wedding Day," which was the network's highest rated special to date. In addition, WE's original special "Young Sexy & Royal" posted ratings +33% higher than the Prime average for the network during the same time period.
About WE: Women's Entertainment
WE: Women's Entertainment is the only cable network dedicated to helping women connect to one another and the world around them. With quality original programming including the hit series "Bridezillas," unique movie packages like "Three Men and A Chick Flick," topical specials and its public affairs initiative WE Empowers Women, the network supports women and appeals to their interests in pop culture, relationships and personal style. WE: Women's Entertainment is a subsidiary of Rainbow Entertainment Services and is currently seen in over 55 million homes.
About Granada International
Granada International is one of the largest and most successful commercial television distributors in Europe. A unique catalogue of programming encompasses the best in UK network production, international co-productions, formats, Hollywood TV movies, classic film libraries and high quality programming from the worldwide independent production sector.
Granada International is part of ITV Worldwide.
For further information on programming please visit the website www.granadamedia.com/international.