PanaTV Acquires Rights to Stream Half Of A Yellow Sun in the US and Exclusively in the UK

A select agreement with the London-based Soda Pictures has given Africa's PanaTV the streaming rights to the internationally celebrated film 'Half Of A Yellow Sun.' The deal is significant for the budding network, as it will be the first to stream the film exclusively in the United Kingdom.

A related deal with the monterey media company in the United States grants PanaTV the non-exclusive rights to stream the 2013 drama in the US, plus a limited shared exclusive pre-window.

The movie will be available for VOD in the US, from June 29th, and in the UK, from August 2014.

Half Of A Yellow Sun, adapted from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's best-selling, Orange Prize-winning novel of the same title, has been lauded internationally for its heartrending illustration of Nigeria's Biafran War, a conflict that collides with each character's life in a distinct way.

Written and produced by Nigerian playwright, novelist, and screenwriter Biyi Bandele, Half Of A Yellow Sun stars Academy Award-nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave), BAFTA award winner Thandie Newton (Crash), Anika Noni Rose (The Princess And The Frog), John Boyega, Onyeka Onwenu, Joseph Mawle, Genevieve Nnaji and O.C. Ukeje.

Controversy has surrounded the film, however, as The National Film & Videos Censors Board (NFVCB) of Nigeria recently asked film exhibitors in a May 27 letter to "expunge/edit some clearly stated objectionable aspects". The objections arose out of concern for national security, the board states.

"The Board dutifully exercised due diligence, consonant with section 36 (1) (b) of NFVCB Enabling Law ACT 1993, CAP N40 LFN 2004, which stipulates that 'a decision on a film shall ensure that such a film is not likely to undermine national security'," Caesar O. Kagho, Acting Head of Corporate Affairs for the censors board stated.

"The NFVCB restates its position that Half Of A Yellow Sun was not banned as speculated," Kagho furthered. The NFVCB has not provided public detail on which "objectionable aspects" of the film they want edited or removed. Following the resolution of the highlighted issues, they state, the board will assign a rating for the film and it will be released to the public.

Despite the controversy surrounding the film in Nigerian theaters, the news of the PanaTV deal is promising to other international viewers who are interested in seeing Half Of A Yellow Sun.

Regarding the arrangement, Louise Rae, Head of Home Entertainment at Soda Pictures said: "We are delighted that Half of a Yellow Sun will be streaming on PanaTV, and believe it is a great home for the film to connect with audiences."

Echoing this, Mandy Roger, PanaTV's Head of Content said "This demonstrates that we seek out high quality films for our viewers; expect to see more of such quality films and content on PanaTV this year."

Half Of A Yellow Sun will be one of the first major features PanaTV will air, as the online television service is slated to officially launch in mid-2014. PanaTV aims to offer over 8,000 hours of quality films, music videos, sports, kids, and lifestyle programming.