ITN Source Signs Footage Deal With China's Biggest Commercial Broadcaster

ITN Source, the world's leading archive footage business continues to strengthen its grip on the Chinese market by signing a deal with the country's largest commercial broadcaster, Shanghai Media Group. The agreement brokered by IPCN, the Anglo-Chinese media company created by Mick Desmond and Rebecca Yang, will see ITN Source supply footage to the documentary films production unit of Shanghai Media Group.

Initially Shanghai Media Group will take footage from ITN Source's one million hours covering areas such as the Chinese-Japanese war, the former Portuguese colony Macao and lifestyle material covering Chinese dress fashions in the twenties. ITN Source represents the world's largest and most diverse catalogue of moving image libraries including, ITN, Reuters, ITV, UTV, ANI, Setanta Sports News, Channel 9 News (Australia), FOX News and FOX Movietone, and other specialist collections

The agreement follows an announcement earlier this year which saw ITN Source sign its first content deal in China through IPCN with The Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, the country's largest foreign language publisher. ITN already has a relationship with Shanghai Media Group producing a daily primetime programme for ICS, the biggest English speaking channel in China, attracting 10 million viewers every night.

Neil Meadows, Sales Director of ITN Source said: 'International revenue growth is key to our success. Through our direct and indirect sales efforts we are building new partnerships with major players such as Shanghai Media Group.'

'IPCN has built a strong relationship with SMG at a variety of levels. This deal between ITN Source and SMG is just the beginning of a very long-term and prosperous cooperation', added Rebecca Yang Managing Partner, IPCN.

A spokesperson for Shanghai Media Group said: 'ITN Source's archive contents are very precious and useful for us. We are very happy to work with them and we look forward to more cooperation between the two companies going forward.'

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Press contact: John Nolan - Tel: 020 7430 4216 or email john.nolan@itn.co.uk

About IPCN

IPCN Ltd. was launched in 2007 specifically to help leading TV production and digital media companies meet China's growing demand for quality international programme, online and mobile content.

The company's founders Mick Desmond and Rebecca Yang represent a unique partnership of major TV experience and 'Europe meets China'.

IPCN is positioned as a unique and independent offering that successfully harnesses the strong creative output of the UK and European production community with the ever-changing and increasing demands of China's media owners and advertisers. IPCN's success in achieving TV programme/content/format deals in China has been due to: its unrivalled access to the broadcasters, industry and regulators in China.

IPCN is already the clear 'TV for China' market leader: In 2008, it commissioned 160 hours of programme content specifically for the Chinese market - more than double that of any other European company.

About ITN Source

ITN Source is the gateway to over one million hours of iconic broadcast footage and creative moving imagery captured over three centuries. From news to drama, celebrity, comedy, music, wildlife, natural history and film, to an inspirational stock footage section.

ITN Source represents the world's largest and most diverse catalogue of moving image libraries including, ITN, Reuters, ITV, UTV, ANI, Setanta Sports News, Channel 9 News (Australia), FOX News and FOX Movietone, and other specialist collections. ITNSource.com offers customers the convenience of searching for, viewing, downloading and purchasing broadcast quality content at the touch of a button.

With headquarters in London, ITN Source has sales offices in New York, Paris, Sydney and Tokyo. For further information, visit www.itnsource.com