British VB Purchasing Guide September-December 2008

British programming specialist Acorn Media continues to grow, projecting $100 million in global sales in 2008, up 25% from 2007. The company’s primary marketing vehicle for the fourth quarter will be its 16 million-circulation Acorn Direct print catalog, which attracts consumer buyers not only directly, but also sparks interest and later purchases in stores, according to Jennifer Linck, director of marketing. Some of the main locations where Acorn titles sell are book-oriented retailers such as Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Borders, all of which are likely to run promotions for Acorn titles in the fourth quarter. Some of the main titles coming from Acorn are the four-part conspiracy thriller Mobile, the next set of the company’s best-selling Midsomer Murders series, screenwriter Andrew Davies’ Fanny Hill and an Agatha Christie collection. Many of the titles have performed well while being broadcast on U.S. TV, Linck says, however, Midsomer Murders doesn’t air anymore and is selling well anyway. “People can’t see it on TV anymore, so they buy it instead,” she says. Another asset of British programming working in Acorn’s favor: “People are just looking for good TV.” —Cindy Spielvogel

Mobile (two-disc set $39.99) Michael Kitchen (Foyle’s War) stars in this tense drama that reveals a terrorist plot targeting mobile phone towers and their users; Midsomer Murders: Set Eleven (four-disc set $49.99) DCI Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) continues to solve the murders committed in the seemingly sedate English countryside. Both street Oct. 7, prebook Sept. 9

Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure (DVD $29.99) Based on the 18th century erotic classic, this film follows Fanny from her tragic country beginnings to her knowledge of sensual delights as a prostitute in London; Agatha Christie Mystery Lover’s Collection (four-disc set $39.99) This set features popular Christie characters Tommy and Tuppence (James Warwick and Francesca Annis), Hercule Poirot (David Suchet) and Miss Marple (Geraldine McEwan) in five classic tales. Both street Oct. 28, prebook Sept. 30

Canada’s BFS Entertainment has two British entries coming. The Jury is a miniseries starring 300’s Gerard Butler. Gone to Seed is a comedy drama series. —C.S.

The Jury Derek Jacobi and Gerard Butler star in this six-part series, filmed in London’s famous Old Bailey courthouse, about an ax murder trial and the jurors affected by it. Street Sept. 23, prebook now; two-disc set $34.98

Gone to Seed A domineering mother refuses to turn over the family-run garden center to her three unstable, quarreling children. Street Oct. 21, prebook Sept. 23; two-disc set $39.98