American Public Television Brings Popular British Drama Doc Martin Back to U.S. Television

Season 7 of the quirky series arrives on American public television stations in 2016

BOSTON (November 23, 2015): Coming off a highly rated eight-week run in the UK, the newest season of Doc Martin is headed to public television stations across the U.S. beginning January 1, 2016. With a weekly reach of 5.9 million viewers, the series consistently “owned the night” for Britain’s ITV network. Distributed by American Public Television (APT) – a leading syndicator of top-rated programming to the nation’s public television stations for more than 50 years – the seventh season is described by series’ star and BAFTA winner Martin Clunes as “the best yet.”

U.S. viewers have been clamoring for more Doc Martin since the season 6 finale in 2013, and nearly 90 public television stations are already signed on to broadcast the new season. Longtime fans – who refer to themselves as “Clunatics” – are especially eager to discover if Clunes’ ill-mannered physician Dr. Martin Ellingham can save his troubled marriage to schoolteacher Louisa (Caroline Catz).

While Doc Martin is now an international hit, the series initially aired in just 16 U.S. public television markets when it premiered in 2008. Subsequent seasons have grown in reach, with more than 80 public television licensees purchasing rights to all six seasons. Ratings over the past six years have reflected this growth, with individual markets raking in solid prime time numbers (in the threes) and national prime-time ratings averaging 1.24 in primary metered markets. Beginning this week, APT will also distribute the fundraising special Doc Martin – Seven Grumpy Seasons, public television’s third behind-the-scenes look at the wildly popular drama.

Doc Martin is also available at Acorn.TV and on a variety of devices, and Acorn will release the season 7 DVD on December 8, 2015. Doc Martin VII was acquired by American Public Television from Acorn Media Group for syndication to public television stations nationwide, and Doc Martin – Seven Grumpy Seasons and the Doc Martin Series 7 Filler Package were co-produced by American Public Television and Acorn Media Group.

About APT:
American Public Television (APT) has been a leading syndicator of high-quality, top-rated programming to the nation’s public television stations since 1961. For 10 years, APT has annually distributed one-third or more of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles in the U. S. Among its 300 new program titles per year, APT programs include prominent documentaries, news and current affairs programs, dramas, how-to programs, children’s series and classic movies. America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated, Rick Steves’ Europe, Front and Center, Doc Martin, Nightly Business Report, Midsomer Murders, Vera, NHK Newsline, Lidia’s Kitchen, Globe Trekker, Simply Ming, and P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home join numerous documentaries and performance programs popular with public television viewers. APT licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service. Now in its 10th year, Create® TV — featuring the best of public television's lifestyle programming — is distributed by APT. APT also distributes WORLD™, public television’s premier news, science and documentary channel. To find out more about APT’s programs and services, visit APTonline.org.

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