AB, Paramount in Distribution Deal

PARIS: AB Groupe has signed an eight-year deal to represent 175 movies from the Paramount Pictures library in French-speaking markets in Europe.

The pact covers features such as Mission: Impossible, Forrest Gump, Beverly Hills Cop, The Godfather and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, among others.

"This is an unique opportunity to distribute, and to broadcast on our own channels, high-quality movies especially at a time when cinema is making a company on television in France, particularly on the DTT and thematic channels," said Richard Maroko, executive VP of programming at AB Groupe.

Valérie Vleeschhouwer, managing director of AB International Distribution, said the pact allows the company to "propose a full range of high-quality programming to our customers."

Hal Richardson, president of worldwide television distribution at Paramount Pictures, added, "We are very pleased to have finalized this transaction which enables us to secure long-term distribution in the French-speaking territories in Europe for some of our most emblematic movies."