The four-part docu-series will premiere on Crave next month
Thunderbird acquired Canadian distribution rights from Network Entertainment
VANCOUVER (July 22, 2019) — Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc. (TSXV:TBRD) (“Thunderbird” or the “Company”), a global multi-platform entertainment and distribution–rights company, is thrilled to announce a Canadian distribution deal with Bell Media’s streaming service Crave, for Punk, a four-part docu-series from Network Entertainment. The series is executive produced by John Varvatos and Iggy Pop, produced by Network’s Derik Murray and directed by Jesse James Miller. It is slated to premiere on Crave in August 2019.
Punk premiered on EPIX in the United States in March 2019. Thunderbird acquired Canadian distribution rights from Network Entertainment, and Fremantle is overseeing distribution in other international territories. The series features exclusive interviews with pioneers in the American punk rock scene, as well as the UK’s most provocative bands, exploring the music, art, fashion and DIY attitude of a subculture of self-described misfits and outcasts.
Musicians profiled in Punk include Iggy Pop, Johnny Rotten (Sex Pistols/Public Image Ltd./PiL), Henry Rollins (Black Flag / Rollins Band), Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day), Joan Jett (Runaways /Joan Jett & the Blackhearts), Marky Ramone (Ramones), Debbie Harry and Chris Stein (Blondie), Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses), Wayne Kramer (MC5), Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys/Alternative Tentacles), Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), and Dave Grohl (Nirvana/Foo Fighters). Music industry legends Danny Fields, Legs McNeil (Please Kill Me / Punk Magazine), and filmmaker Penelope Spheeris (The Decline of Western Civilization; Wayne’s World) are also featured in the series.
“Building on our history of successful distribution partnerships with Bell Media and Network Entertainment, including Network’s, award-winning I AM docu-series, Thunderbird is pleased that Punk will soon be available to Canadian viewers on Crave,” says Jhod Cardinal, director of distribution, Thunderbird Entertainment. “Our distribution team is always looking to partner with the best producers in the business, to bring their incredible content to audiences across Canada and around the world. Network is one of these producers, and with icons like John Varvatos and Iggy Pop leading the series, we’re certain that Punk will be well received in Canada.”
When Punk was first announced, Varvatos said in a statement “Exploring and reliving the history of punk has been an absolute labor of love for me. Punk’s ability to transcend generations in its culture, music, and style is a story that needs to be told. So… Hey Ho Let’s Go!!”
Network Entertainment
Network Entertainment is a creatively driven, boutique film and television production company that creates, finances, produces, and delivers award winning programming to television, digital platforms and movie audiences around the world. The Network premium brand of content delivers world class casts, with visually cinematic and richly crafted storytelling, which is consistently embraced by both audiences and critics alike, garnering awards, record ratings and unparalleled media coverage for Network and its partners.
Network has a full slate of films and series in current production, including a feature documentary on Jackie Kennedy Onassis, and a multi-part documentary series for YouTube on Artificial Intelligence in partnership with Robert Downey Jr. The Company’s most recent releases include Punk, a four-part series for Epix, Executive Produced by John Varvatos and Iggy Pop, and the feature documentary I Am Richard Pryor, which premiered at this year’s SXSW Film Festival. Network’s latest documentary, I Am Patrick Swayze, will premiere at the San Antonio Film Festival on August 2. Among the company’s many accolades, Network was named to the Realscreen Global 100 List, an annual compilation of the best global production companies working in the non-fiction and unscripted visual content industry.
Network’s broadcast and distribution partners include: A&E, CBC, Crave, Epix, Fremantle, HBO Canada, Lionsgate, National Geographic, Paramount Network, Thunderbird, and YouTube Premium. The Company’s work has been recognized by the Academy Awards, the Emmys, the Leos, Realscreen Awards, the Gemini Awards, the Los Angeles Film Festival, Washington D.C. Silver Docs, Seattle International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Hawaii International Film Festival, Houston International Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, Banff Television Festival, and the International Film and Television Festival of New York.
Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc.
Thunderbird Entertainment Group (TSXV:TBRD) is a Vancouver-based global multi-platform entertainment company with offices in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Toronto, Ottawa and London (UK). Thunderbird creates award-winning scripted, unscripted and animated programming for the world’s leading digital platforms, as well as Canadian and international broadcasters. Thunderbird’s vision is to produce high quality, socially responsible content that makes the world a better place. The company develops, produces and distributes animated, factual and scripted content through its various divisions: Kids and Family Division (Atomic Cartoons), Factual Division (Great Pacific Media), and Scripted Division (Thunderbird Productions). Thunderbird also has a division based in the United Kingdom dedicated to establishing partnerships with production companies to develop the Company’s intellectual property (IP) and growth in key international territories. Thunderbird is on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @tbirdent. For more information, visit: www.thunderbird.tv
For further information, please contact:
Investor Relations Contacts:
Lucas Cahill and Freddie Leigh
Phone: + 1 604.683.3555
Email: investors@thunderbird.tv
Media Relations Contact:
Julia Smith, Finch Media
Phone: +1 604.803.0897
Email: julia@finchmedia.net