Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Lionsgate Expands China Streaming, Includes ‘Twilight Saga: Eclipse’

Deal includes 'Tree of Life,' 'Princess Bride, 'Dirty Dancing'



Lionsgate has signed a multiyear licensing with China’s Jiaflix for streaming “classic” Lionsgate and Summit films such as “Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” “Tree of Life,” “The Princess Bride” and “Dirty Dancing.”
The agreement also covers selected new releases for transactional and subscription video on demand on M1905.com, China’s official streaming Website.
The deal was announced by Lionsgate’s Jim Packer, president of worldwide television and digital distribution, and Jiaflix principals Sid Ganis, Marc Ganis and Kenneth Huang.
“We’re pleased to be in business with our friend Sid Ganis and the entire team at Jiaflix,” said Packer. “This agreement reflects our continuing commitment to monetizing our library and licensing our motion picture and television content to the large and growing Chinese marketplace.”

Packer also said that the agreement follows a series of deals licensing hundreds of Lionsgate films and nearly 1,000 hours of television programming in China. It previously licensed “Orange is the New Black” to Youku in China, where it has become among the more popular Western shows.
Lionsgate also recently announced that it was releasing its tentpole franchise film “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” in Chinese theaters day-and-date on Nov. 22.
Sid Ganis is a former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He also was vice chairman of Columbia Pictures and president of Paramount Pictures.

Source: variety 

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