AT&T has struck a deal with British studio Aardman Animations to provide U-verse TV customers the first look at the next short film in the popular Wallace and Gromit franchise, "A Matter of Loaf and Death," exclusively in the U.S. through August 31.
"A Matter of Loaf and Death" will debut June 5 on U-verse TV's video-on-demand service. It will be free June 5-7 and available for $4 rental beginning June 8.
In addition, AT&T will distribute clips of the famous cheese lover and his canine friend on AT&T wireless devices and online at http://uconnect.att.com.
"It was a unique opportunity presented to us to deliver world-class content across all three platforms," Dan York, executive vice president of content and programming for AT&T, said in an interview.
In the 30-minute PG-rated film, directed by Academy Award winner Nick Park, Wallace and Gromit have just opened up a new bakery to booming business. The man-and-dog duo must face down a deadly "cereal killer" who is murdering all the other bakers in the town.
AT&T has exclusive distribution rights to "A Matter of Loaf and Death" until August 31. The film is scheduled to be released on DVD in the U.S. this fall.
Also as part of the deal, U-verse TV will offer a package of four Wallace and Gromit films -- the new short plus the previous "A Grand Day Out," "The Wrong Trousers" and "A Close Shave" -- for $7 rental on VOD.
Other content from Aardman will include a 22-minute making-of documentary about "A Matter of Loaf and Death," which will be available for free in the U-verse TV VOD library and online at uconnect.att.com.
