ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE) has signed a multi-year deal with Japanese satellite broadcaster Imagica TV for its Imagica BS channel to air ITV Collection, a new ITV-branded programming block.

ITV Collection will feature 200 episodes annually of premium drama programming from ITVS GE’s catalogue. The flagship title will be ITV Studios’ Mr Selfridge, which stars Jeremy Piven as the flamboyant and visionary American founder of Selfridge’s, the renowned London department store. Other titles include Agatha Christie’s Poirot, which stars David Suchet as the famous Belgian detective and classic drama Brideshead Revisited, based on the book by Evelyn Waugh. ITV Collection will air on Imagica BS from October.

Imagica BS will also be creating an ITV Collection VOD service, featuring a wider selection of programming. 

Augustus Dulgaro, EVP, Asia Pacific for ITV Studios Global Entertainment, said: “ITVS GE’s brand of high-quality drama programming has always proven recognisable and popular with Japanese audiences. We are delighted that Imagica TV will be further developing this brand by creating ITV Collection, a dedicated scheduling block where viewers can watch all of their favourite ITV dramas.”

The deal was brokered by Dan Edwards, ITVS GE’s VP Sales, Pacific Rim and Intervision, ITVS GE’s TV sales agent in Japan.