LOS ANGELES, March 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Executive producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett's THE BIBLE continues to be a cultural phenomenon and draw audiences from across all platforms including books, DVDs, and downloads, inspiring viewers as it heads into the Easter weekend and the series finale. THE BIBLE, which has been viewed by close to 80 million people, took over the number one spot on iTunes for top TV show downloads. The series is currently ranked number two on the list of 100 on Amazon's Best Sellers list in Movies and TV.
Burnett and Downey's novelization of THE BIBLE television miniseries, THE BIBLE: A STORY OF GOD AND ALL OF US debuted on February 26th and has climbed to number ten on Publisher's Weekly Hardcover Fiction List and is number twenty on The New York Times Hardcover Fiction list, published for March 31st.
Every Sunday during the series, the YouVersion Bible App has been in the top 25 out of over 800,000 apps on iTunes. "Since the premiere of the series, we've seen the Bible App installed over a million times each week as people become more interested in the Bible," says Pastor Bobby Gruenewald, the app's creator, at LifeChurch.tv. "We're thrilled to partner with THE BIBLE series and provide free access to God's Word for everyone who is watching, whether they are familiar with the Bible or experiencing it for the very first time."
"Roma and I continue to be grateful for the overwhelming global enthusiasm for THE BIBLE series," says executive producer Mark Burnett."Every day we receive additional requests to license the series to another country." "The audience reaction says so much about what people are looking for these days," adds Downey,"we are just thrilled that we were able to bring these stories to life."
"The extraordinary success of THE BIBLE series is proof that it's resonating in exactly the way Mark & Roma knew it would. International broadcasters around the world that want this kind of market dominance are quickly acquiring the series," said C. Scot Cru, SVP of International at Burnett's One Three Media who are distributing THE BIBLE series.
The series, which premiered March 3rd on The History Channel, has continued to outperform all other television shows on Sunday nights. THE BIBLE reached close to 80 million viewers with its first three installments alone (included 18 telecasts on HISTORY and Lifetime.)
THE BIBLE, premiering every Sunday on HISTORY over the last three Sundays, culminating on Easter, was created and executive produced by renowned producer Mark Burnett (The Voice, Survivor, The Apprentice, Shark Tank) and Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel). The series, a landmark television event, combines one of the greatest collections of stories ever assembled with live action and state-of-the-art CGI. The series is narrated by Emmy award-winning actor/vocalist Keith David (Mr. & Mrs. Smith; Platoon; Crash) and features a musical score by the world-renowned Grammy and Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer. In April, THE BIBLE series will arrive on Blu-ray and DVD with hours of exclusive special features and extras making it a must-own for every home. A book series by Mark and Roma is currently available in stores.
Leading the outstanding international cast is Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actress and series' co-executive producer Roma Downey, who plays Mother Mary. Joining her are Portuguese TV star Diogo Morgado as Jesus, as well as an array of acclaimed UK-based actors including Sean Teale (Skins), David Rintoul (The Iron Lady, My Week with Marilyn), Amber Rose Revah (The Borgias), Peter Guinness (an accomplished long time film/theatre actor), Greg Hicks (one of the UK's best-known Shakespearean actors), and Simon Kunz (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Parent Trap, Matchpoint).
From Genesis to Revelation, HISTORY will illuminate the Bible, re-telling the stories as they unfold and revealing new insights into these iconic characters in context of the Bible. The series will feature some of the most famous stories ever written from Noah's Ark and the Exodus to Daniel in the Lion's Den to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
THE BIBLE series is produced for HISTORY by Lightworkers Media and Hearst Entertainment & Syndication. Executive Producers are Mark Burnett, Roma Downey and Richard Bedser. Executive Producers for HISTORY are Dirk Hoogstra and Julian P. Hobbs. THE BIBLE is distributed by One Three Media, Inc.
SOURCE Lightworkers Media
