BT to show debut of AMC’s Manhattan free-to-air

UK telco BT will be the first UK TV operator to show US drama series Manhattan, making the first episode available free of charge to viewers through its Freeview channel, BT Showcase.

The premiere of Manhattan, about the project to develop the atomic bomb during the Second World War, is the latest fruit of BT’s exclusive carriage deal with US pay TV network AMC. BT previously premiered US series Fear the Walking Dead on BT Showcase in the same away, ahead of its airing on AMC.

The full 13-episode series of Lionsgate-distributed Manhattan will be available free of charge exclusively to all BT TV customers on AMC channel 332 on BT TV and BT Sport Pack subscribers on Sky channel 192. AMC is also available in HD on both BT TV and Sky with an HD subscription.

AMC launched in the UK exclusively on the BT platform at the end of August.

“Manhattan is the latest exclusive premiere for BT customers. We expect viewers to be captivated from the very first episode as they follow some fantastically complex characters, depicting the wonder, danger and deceit that shadows the first ‘nuclear’ families,” said Delia Bushell, managing director, BT TV and BT Sport.

“AMC on BT offers an exciting range of top dramas such as Fear the Walking Dead and Rectify. Last quarter, BT TV added 106,000 new BT TV customers, taking our TV customer base to 1.3 million.

“This represents our best ever quarter, reflecting our strong content line-up. Announcing exclusive shows like “Manhattan” on AMC reinforces that we continuously strive to offer the best TV shows available.”