WBITD Signs Volume Deal in Spain

MADRID/BURBANK: Warner Bros. International Television Distribution (WBITD) has signed a deal with laSexta that gives the Spanish broadcaster free-TV rights to a range of first-run theatrical motion pictures and previously released feature films as well as a host of TV titles.

Under the multi-year pact, laSexta will air a host of the studio’s new TV series, starting with programs from the upcoming 2010-11 U.S. season; new feature films, beginning with 2011 free-TV availabilities; previously released movies from the Warner Entertainment library; and made-for-DVD releases.

Movie titles in the deal include Invictus, starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, and directed by Clint Eastwood; Gran Torino, starring and directed by Eastwood; Sherlock Holmes, starring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law and Rachel McAdams, and directed by Guy Ritchie; and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, directed by David Fincher. There’s also Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, The Hangover and The Dark Knight.

José Miguel Contreras, the CEO of laSexta said, “For laSexta, this deal with Warner Bros. is a jump ahead in the network’s strategy, as laSexta is committed to keep growing while offering its viewers leading entertainment content. From now on, laSexta’s programming schedule will include an extraordinary collection of leading productions that will be highly appealing for Spanish audiences. Our network always tries hard to offer the best possible treatment in terms of programming and marketing to these stellar audiovisual products, both now and also in the future.”

Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, the president of Warner Bros. International Television, added, “laSexta has done an outstanding job launching and attracting an audience for our shows as a free television broadcast partner in Spain, most recently very successfully with the global hit The Mentalist. We believe this network is a great fit for both our current and upcoming series, and are happy to expand our relationship to include the company’s feature films. We look forward to continuing with laSexta to deliver the best U.S. TV series and movies to Spanish audiences for years to come.”

Josh Berger, the president of Warner Bros. Spain, commented, “With the new television channels to be created after the analog TV blackout, this is an excellent opportunity for our TV shows and feature films, both for those new and also for those included in our collection, to reach a wider audience.”