BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.,
Feb. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/
-- Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) and Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA,
STRZB) announced a new, multi-year agreement that extends their
exclusive first-run output premium pay TV deal. As a result,
Starz will have the exclusive pay television rights to Sony
Pictures' theatrical releases through 2021. The previous
agreement between the two companies had covered motion pictures
released theatrically through 2016.
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Commencing with 2005 theatrical releases, Starz has been the
exclusive first-run pay television home for the exhibition of Sony
Pictures' films including titles from Columbia Pictures, Sony
Pictures Classics, TriStar, and Screen Gems. The new
SPE-Starz agreement provides movie content for all Starz platforms
including its linear STARZ and ENCORE channels in standard
definition and HD, subscription VOD services in standard
definition, HD On Demand and 3D On Demand, and online streaming
services, including the recently launched STARZ PLAY and ENCORE
PLAY. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Big, hit Sony titles coming in 2013 exclusively on pay
television to the STARZ channels and services include: The
Amazing Spider-Man, 21 Jump Street, Zero Dark Thirty, The
Vow, Men In Black 3, and Resident Evil:
Retribution.
"STARZ and ENCORE subscribers have enjoyed the consistently
stellar theatrical product from Sony, and we are thrilled to extend
our exclusive partnership into the next decade," said Chris Albrecht, Starz Chief Executive
Officer. "Starz will continue to offer the richest premium TV
viewing experience for our subscribers and distributors for years
to come thanks to STARZ' growing original programming slate, along
with the robust lineup of new blockbuster Sony releases and our
deep movie library."
"Starz has been a terrific partner and we are excited to be
extending our relationship with them through the 2021 slate," said
John Weiser, President, U.S.
distribution for Sony Pictures Television.
Starz remains the exclusive home of Disney theatrical releases,
including its Lucasfilm, Marvel and Pixar releases, and their
accompanying digital streaming rights, into 2017.
About Starz
Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) is a leading integrated global
media and entertainment company with operating units that provide
premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay
television channels (Starz Channels), global content distribution
(Starz Distribution) and animated television and movie production
(Starz Animation), www.starz.com.
Starz Channels is a leading provider of premium subscription
video programming through the flagship STARZ® and
ENCORE® pay TV networks which showcase premium original
programming and movies to U.S. multichannel video distributors,
including cable operators, satellite television providers, and
telecommunications companies. As of September 30, 2012, STARZ and ENCORE serve a
combined 55 million subscribers, including 21 million at STARZ, and
34 million at ENCORE, making them the largest pair of premium
flagship channels in the U.S. STARZ® and
ENCORE®, along with Starz Channels' third network
MOVIEPLEX®, air over 1,000 movies monthly across
17 linear networks, complemented by On Demand and authenticated
online offerings through STARZ PLAY, ENCORE PLAY, and MOVIEPLEX
PLAY. Starz Distribution develops, produces and acquires
entertainment content, distributing it to consumers globally on
DVD, digital formats and traditional television. Starz
Distribution's home video, digital media and worldwide distribution
business units distribute original programming content produced by
Starz, as well as entertainment content for itself and third
parties. Starz Animation produces animated TV and movie
content for studios, networks, distributors and audiences
worldwide.
About Sony Pictures Entertainment:
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony
Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global
operations encompass motion picture production and distribution;
television production and distribution; home entertainment
acquisition and distribution; a global channel network; digital
content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities;
development of new entertainment products, services and
technologies; and distribution of entertainment around the world.
For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com.
Contacts:
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Theano
Apostolou
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Paula
Askanas
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Starz
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Sony
Pictures Entertainment
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(424)
204-4052 (o)
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(310)
244-3790
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(917)
576-8395 (c)
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paula_askanas@spe.sony.com
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theano@starz.com
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Whit
Clay
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Sloane
PR
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wclay@sloanepr.com
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(212)
446-1864
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SOURCE Starz