ITV Global Entertainment Ltd announced a premium content drama deal with Japan’s satellite and cable entertainment broadcaster, Channel Ginga. The deal features over 400 hours of ITV Studio and independently produced primetime drama and is set to premiere on Channel Ginga from Spring 2009. The line-up stars critically celebrated and long running criminal investigation series Cracker, A Touch of Frost and Prime Suspect, starring the Academy Award winning actress Helen Mirren. Along with masterpiece costume adaptations Hornblower starring Ioan Gruffudd (Fantastic Four), Sharpe starring Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings) and Agatha Christie’s Poirot. The drama acquisition deal was spearheaded by Augustus Dulgaro, SVP sales – Australia, New Zealand and Japan, ITV Global Entertainment.