Universal, Paramount Partner For Russian DVD Deal

MOSCOW,
September 6: Universal Pictures International Entertainment (UPIE) and
Paramount Home Entertainment International (PHEI) have formed a partnership
under which Universal Pictures Russia will market and distribute Paramount’s
DVD titles in Russia, effective October 2.

The agreement
includes all releases from Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, Paramount
Vantage, Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films. Initial titles scheduled for DVD
release in Russia this year under the agreement include Shooter, Jackass
Number Two, Blades of Glory, World Trade Center, Norbit, Transformers, Nacho
Libre, Shrek the Third, Charlotte’s Web, Mission: Impossible 3 and Vanilla Sky.

On the
partnership, Eddie Cunningham, UPIE’s president, commented: “We are very committed
to the market in Russia and recognize big growth opportunities in the region.
We are delighted to partner with Paramount in Russia to market and distribute
their fantastic slate of films, in what is becoming one of the fastest-growing
emerging markets for home entertainment.”

PHEI’s
president, Dennis Maguire, added: "The Russian economy is strengthening
and the filmed entertainment business is beginning to accelerate. We will be
perfectly positioned to take advantage of growth opportunities with our
Universal partnership and their first class distribution operation."