Sony Pictures, Starz Extend Pay TV Agreement

ENGLEWOOD Colo., and CULVER CITY, Calif., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Starz
Entertainment, LLC, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, announced today a
multi-year extension of their agreement which grants Starz the exclusive pay
television rights to all Sony Pictures theatrical releases well into the next
decade. The previous agreement between the two companies had covered motion
pictures released theatrically through 2013. The new agreement allows Starz
exclusive pay television rights to exhibit the Sony Pictures films on all
Starz platforms. It also provides that Starz continues to have the rights to
interviews with talent and behind-the-scenes material from Sony Pictures
releases that can be aired by Starz services while the films are in theaters.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
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In announcing the agreement, Bill Myers, Starz president and chief
operating officer, said "Sony Pictures has been a fabulous partner for Starz
for many years. Some of the most-watched movies on Starz in recent years have
come from Sony including The Da Vinci Code, the Spider-Man films, and The
Pursuit of Happyness. In 2009 we look forward to airing another great slate
including Step Brothers, You Don't Mess with the Zohan, Pineapple Express and
Hancock. Starz has always prided itself on bringing its customers the best of
Hollywood. Sony Pictures films have been critical in meeting that commitment,
and we are delighted that our partnership will continue well into the next
decade."
"We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Starz well into the
future," said John Weiser, president, distribution, Sony Pictures Television.
"With movies like Angels & Demons, 2012 and Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three
on our slate this year, Starz can look forward to the best, most sought-after
films for their customers."
The original output agreement between Starz and Sony was signed in 2000
and took effect with January, 2005, releases. In September, 2006, the two
companies announced a separate agreement under which Starz obtained the rights
to air more than 500 top movie titles from the Sony Pictures library.
About Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry's leading
content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre,
including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment for
network and cable television, as well as first-run and off-network series for
syndication and digital distribution. With more than 25 programs on the air,
SPT boasts a program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game
shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically
acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. SPT also owns one-half of
cable channel GSN and is a partner in FEARnet, the premier horror/thriller
website and VOD service. Sony Pictures Television oversees all of Sony
Pictures Entertainment's (SPE) domestic digital distribution efforts across
all electronically delivered platforms, including the internet and mobile and
manages the studio's video website, Crackle. Sony Pictures Television,
advertiser sales, is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies,
handling the commercial inventory in SPT syndicated series as well as in all
of SPE's digital businesses in the United States, for Sony Music Entertainment
and for the Tennis Channel, and is part owner of national media sales company
ITN Networks, Inc. SPT (http://www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony
Pictures Entertainment company.
About Starz Entertainment
Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie service provider operating in
the United States. It offers 16 movie channels including the flagship Starz
and Encore brands with approximately 17.4 million and 31.6 million subscribers
respectively. Starz Entertainment airs more than 1,000 movies per month across
its pay TV channels and offers advances services including Starz HD, Encore
HD, Starz On Demand, Encore On Demand, MoviePlex On Demand, Starz HD On
Demand, Encore HD, On Demand, MoviePlex HD On Demand and Starz Play. Starz
Entertainment (http://www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which
is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation, and is attributed to
Liberty Entertainment Group, a tracking stock group of Liberty Media
Corporation.
SOURCE Sony Pictures Television

Paula Askanas, SVP, Media Relations and Promotions, Sony Pictures Television,
+1-310-244-3790, paula_askanas@spe.sony.com; or Tom Southwick, SVP, Corporate
Communications of Starz Entertainment, +1-720-852-5821,
Tom.Southwick@Starz.com