Channel 4 Acquires Cult Comedy 'Rick & Steve'

Channel 4 International, part of the Digital Rights Group, has announced a significant UK acquisition for the cult comedy 'Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple In The World'.
The series will premier in the UK on digital channel E4 in Autumn 2008, following a deal brokered by Patrick Roberts, Vice President, International Sales at Channel 4 International and Jeff Ford, Director of Acquisitions and Film4.
'Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple In The World' is a ground-breaking 6 x 22 minute animation, which takes the viewer on a whirlwind ride through modern domestic bliss in the gayest of gay ghettos, West Lahunga Beach. It features the voice talents of Alan Cumming ('The L Word', 'X2'), Peter Paige ('Queer As Folk'), Margaret Cho ('I'm The One That I Want'), Billy West ('Futurama') and Wilson Cruz ('Party Of Five', 'He's Just Not That Into You').
It is produced by Cuppa Coffee Productions, Posh Pictures and Logo. The show airs in the US on Logo, a 24/7 digital cable channel and online entertainment source from MTV Networks. A second series is set for broadcast in the US later this year.
Mr Roberts said: "We are very pleased to have E4 onboard as the cult of 'Rick & Steve' spreads throughout the world. The channel has a world-renowned reputation for acquiring fresh and contemporary programming appealing to the lucrative, yet elusive, 16 to 35 age group, so this is a fantastic indication of the quality and appeal of the show for potential broadcasters worldwide."
Mr Ford added: "We are delighted to have picked up this irreverent and comical animated series, which we are sure will appeal to our E4's audience."
Channel 4 International is a fully integrated rights exploitation service, which provides co-production, deficit finance, marketing, programme servicing and business affairs advice. It is a Digital Rights Group. Digital Rights Group is backed by IMAC (Ingenious Media Active Capital) and provides producers with international distribution for their rights and programmes independently of the major broadcasters and other producer-owned distributors.
Further information is available at: www.c4i.tv.
(KMcA)