– Starz and Bell Media to Rebrand pay TV channel TMN Encore
–
– Multi-year agreement also features first pay window of future
Lionsgate theatrical releases –
TORONTO, and SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Bell Media,
Canada's leading content company,
today joined with global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A,
LGF.B) and Lionsgate's Starz premium pay television platform to
announce an exclusive, long-term alliance to bring Starz to
Canada and distribute the first
pay window of Lionsgate's future theatrical releases in the
territory.
The multifaceted agreement is a ground-breaking move by Starz
and Bell Media to compete for premium subscribers on all platforms,
and dramatically increases the value of Bell Media's suite of
premium subscription services, including pay television network The
Movie Network Encore (TMN Encore), which Starz and Bell Media will
rebrand next year.
The collaboration marks the first international launch of Starz
since Lionsgate acquired the network in December 2016 as well as the first time it will
be available in Canada. Starz
content will be introduced across Bell Media platforms, including
TMN Encore and Canada's premium
streaming service CraveTV.
TMN Encore will be rebranded in early 2019, with a slate of
premium Starz programming and a broad selection of Lionsgate hit
films and television series facilitating its transformation into a
world-class platform. The newly branded service will also be
available on a direct-to-consumer basis.
Starz, one of the most highly viewed premium pay television
platforms in the U.S., features over 7,000 feature film and
television titles and an original programming roster led by hits
such as POWER and GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE and highly anticipated
upcoming series including VIDA and SWEETBITTER.
"We're delighted to bring Starz to Canada as part of our international channel
rollout," said Starz President and
CEO Chris Albrecht. "Bell
Media is one of North America's
elite content companies, and they bring great brand recognition, a
massive consumer base, and unparalleled distribution skills to our
alliance. This agreement creates the perfect foundation for the
growth of Starz in the territory."
"Bell Media is thrilled to be on board as Starz's first
international partner," said Randy
Lennox, President, Bell
Media. "Starz is making waves with bold, fresh content
that's resonating with audiences around the world. We're delighted
to introduce this premium brand to Canadians as well as partner
with Lionsgate on the distribution of their film properties going
forward."
Bell Media's collaboration with Lionsgate also encompasses
future exclusive first-window access to the studio's slate of hit
Hollywood movies. All Lionsgate
films will also be available to subscribers of Bell Media's
French-language Pay TV service, Super Écran.
"Bell Media is the ideal partner to introduce Starz to Canadian
audiences," said Lionsgate President of Worldwide Television &
Digital Distribution Jim Packer. "The Canadian marketplace
offers tremendous opportunities for growth, and this multifaceted
agreement enables us to deliver the robust slate of Starz premium
programming as well as the future first pay television window for
Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment films to Bell Media
platforms."
"Starz series and Lionsgate films add hundreds of hours of
premium content every year to our already-rich offering," said
Tracey Pearce, President,
Distribution and Pay, Bell Media. "We can't wait to introduce the
evolution of TMN Encore as it transforms into a newly-rebranded
premier pay TV platform."
The deal was negotiated by Lionsgate EVP & Managing Director
of Worldwide TV Sales Canada Susan
Hummel under the direction of Packer and Lionsgate SVP
Corporate Development & Strategy Miles Delaney, Starz VP of
Corporate Strategy & Development Brad Worthington, and Starz
international executive Superna Kalle. For Bell Media, the deal was
negotiated by Jeff Hersh,
Vice-President, Strategy and Distribution and Justin Stockman, Vice-President, Pay and OTT
Services, under the direction of Tracey
Pearce, President, Distribution and Pay, and Randy Lennox, President.
About Bell Media
Bell Media is Canada's leading content creation company with
premier assets in television, radio, out-of-home advertising, and
digital media. Bell Media owns 30 local television stations led by
CTV, Canada's highest-rated
television network; 30 specialty channels, including TSN and RDS,
and four pay TV services, including The Movie Network and Super
Écran. Bell Media is also Canada's
largest radio broadcaster, with 215 music channels including 105
licensed radio stations in 54 markets across the country, all part
of the iHeartRadio brand and streaming service. Bell Media owns
Astral, an out-of-home advertising network of more than 30,000
faces in British Columbia,
Alberta, Ontario, Québec, and Nova Scotia. Bell Media also operates more
than 200 websites; delivers TV Everywhere with its CraveTV and GO
video streaming services; operates multi-channel network Much
Digital Studios; produces live theatrical shows via its partnership
with Iconic Entertainment Studios; and owns Dome Productions Inc.,
a multi-platform production company. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc.
(TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest
communications company. For more on Bell Media, please visit
www.bellmedia.ca.
About Lionsgate
The first major new studio in decades,
Lionsgate is a global content platform whose films, television
series, digital products and linear and over-the-top platforms
reach next generation audiences around the world. In addition
to its filmed entertainment leadership, Lionsgate content drives a
growing presence in interactive and location-based entertainment,
gaming, virtual reality and other new entertainment
technologies. Lionsgate's content initiatives are backed by a
16,000-title film and television library and delivered through a
global licensing infrastructure. The Lionsgate brand is
synonymous with original, daring and ground-breaking content
created with special emphasis on the evolving patterns and diverse
composition of the Company's worldwide consumer base.
About Starz
Starz (www.starz.com) a Lionsgate company
(NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), is a leading global media and entertainment
company that provides premium subscription video programming on
domestic U.S. pay television networks and produces and distributes
content for worldwide audiences, including its investment in the
STARZ PLAY Arabia OTT service. Starz is home to the flagship STARZ®
brand and STARZ ENCORE channels and provides high-quality,
entertaining premium subscription video programming with 17 premium
pay TV channels and associated on-demand and online services,
including the STARZ app. Sold through U.S. multichannel video
distributors, including cable operators, satellite television
providers, telecommunications companies, and other online and
digital platforms, Starz offers subscribers more than 5,000
distinct premium television episodes and feature films every year
and up to 1,500 every month, including STARZ Original series,
first-run movies and other popular movie and television
programming.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Twitter
@BellMediaPR
@Lionsgate
@CraveTVCanada
@Starz
For more information, please contact:
Scott Campbell, Bell Media
416.384.4235 or scott.campbell@bellmedia.ca
Peter D. Wilkes, Lionsgate
310.255.3726 or pwilkes@lionsgate.com
BellMediaPR.ca
Twitter.com/BellMediaPR
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SOURCE Lionsgate; Bell Media