– 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