BLOCKBUSTER to be Exclusive Rental Outlet for IFC Entertainment's Titles
Through Stores, Mail and VOD Download
NEW YORK, March 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In a move designed to make
independent films available to a wider audience, IFC Entertainment, a
subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, and Blockbuster Inc.
(NYSE: BBI, BBI.B) today announced a two-year agreement that gives
BLOCKBUSTER(R) the exclusive U.S. rental rights for IFC Entertainment's
titles. The agreement enables IFC Entertainment to reach a broader audience
for its films through Blockbuster's stores, by-mail subscription services and
digital downloading service, Movielink.com.
Under the terms of the agreement, IFC and Blockbuster will share rental
revenues from IFC titles. Blockbuster will have an exclusive 60-day rental
window, including both the physical and digital rental distribution channels,
for each title as it becomes available. During this period no title will be
available on a retail basis in any format. After the 60-day period, the IFC
titles will be available on a non-exclusive basis both for retail and digital
distribution. However, Blockbuster will retain the exclusive physical rental
distribution rights for IFC titles for three years after each street date.
In addition to carrying IFC titles in its stores nationwide, Blockbuster
has installed special independent film sections in approximately 1,000 of its
locations, which will include not only IFC titles but also independent movies
from a variety of distributors. Blockbuster also plans to highlight IFC titles
on blockbuster.com and on Movielink.
"We're delighted to join with BLOCKBUSTER as we continue our mission of
making independent film available to the widest possible audience," said Lisa
Schwartz, IFC's senior vice president of sales and business development.
"Blockbuster's national store network combined with its by-mail and
downloading services, made this a particularly appealing agreement for us
because it gives millions of customers increased access to our movies."
"This agreement with IFC is a great opportunity for BLOCKBUSTER to provide
our customers with convenient access to the best of independent film," said
Keith Leopard, director, film product, Blockbuster Inc. "Whether it's through
our stores, through the mail or through digital downloading, our customers
will have access to some of the most exciting, thought-provoking films the
indie filmmaking world has to offer. We look forward to working with IFC to
dramatically expand our selection of independent titles and to being the
exclusive rental outlet for films that otherwise might not have gotten
exposure to such a broad audience."
Titles to be exclusively available for rental at BLOCKBUSTER include: Gus
Van Sant's Paranoid Park, which opens theatrically on Friday, March 7th and
was recently nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards including best
picture and best director and won the Piaget Producers Award, which went to
producer Neil Kopp; Tom Kalin's Savage Grace, which stars Julianne Moore and
was screened at this year's Sundance Film Festival; Hannah Takes the Stairs, a
critically-acclaimed film by Joe Swanberg that emerged as part of the
Mumblecore movement; and Dans Paris, a French language film directed by
Christophe Honore.
Genius Products, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: GNPI), a leading independent
home-entertainment distribution company, serves as the sales agent for IFC
Entertainment.
ABOUT IFC ENTERTAINMENT
IFC Entertainment consists of IFC Films, a leading theatrical film
distribution company bringing the best of independent films to theaters and to
the on-demand platform, day and date, reaching over 45 million subscribers.
The company's brick and mortar home, The IFC Center, features state-of-the-art
cinemas with luxurious seating and high-definition digital and 35mm
projection, located in the heart of New York City's West Village. Recent and
upcoming IFC releases include: 2007 Palme d'Or winner 4 Months, 3 Weeks And 2
Days, which also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Film; Gus
Van Sant's award-winning Paranoid Park; Harmony Korine's Mister Lonley; Hou
Hsiao Hsien's Flight of the Red Balloon starring Juliette Binoche; and
Catherine Breillat's The Last Mistress starring Asia Argento. Other critically
acclaimed films include Patrice Lecontes's My Best Friend, Susanne Bier's
academy award nominated After the Wedding and Ken Loach's 2006 Palme d'Or
winner The Wind that Shakes the Barley.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems
Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media is a leading producer of targeted,
multi-platform content for global distribution, creating and managing some of
the world's most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands, including AMC,
IFC, WE tv, and VOOM HD Networks. Through its IFC Entertainment division,
Rainbow Media also owns and manages the following: IFC Films, a theatrical
feature film distribution company; IFC First Take/IFC in Theaters, a day and
date theatrical feature film/VOD initiative; the IFC Center in New York City;
IFC Productions, a feature film production company; and IFC Entertainment,
which owns and operates a film library. Rainbow Media also operates Rainbow
Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales division, and Rainbow
Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and
distribution company.
About Blockbuster
Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI, BBI.B) is a leading global provider of in-
home movie and game entertainment, with more than 7,800 stores throughout the
Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia. The Company may be accessed worldwide at
http://www.blockbuster.com.
SOURCE IFC Entertainment
Jill Dortheimer of Rainbow Media, +1-917-542-6311, for IFC Entertainment
