Starz Bulks Up Movie Lineup

ENGLEWOOD, January 24: Starz Entertainment has secured the
rights to hundreds of movie titles through new library agreements and extended
output deals with five major studios, including Sony Pictures Television,
Disney-ABC Domestic Television and MGM Worldwide Television Group.

Among the recent agreements, the company has extended its
exclusive first-run output deals with Sony Pictures Television and Disney-ABC
Domestic into the next decade. The Disney deal will provide to Starz films
theatrically released through 2012, and the Sony Pictures Television deal
provides films through 2015. Future output titles from Sony Pictures include Hancock, Angels and Demons and Don’t Mess With Zohan. Disney titles include National Treasure:
Book of Secrets and Enchanted, as well as No Country for Old Men from Miramax Films.

Additionally, library acquisitions from Warner Bros.
Domestic Television Distribution, MGM Worldwide Television Group and Universal
Pictures will provide the rights to approximately 1,200 movie titles and television
series from these studios’ film vaults.

The deals allow Starz Entertainment to offer the content on
multiple distribution platforms, including its 16 linear channels, HD, Starz On
Demand, Starz Play and Vongo, the broadband video download service.

The financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.

“Movies have always been the backbone of our company,” said
Stephan Shelanski, Starz’s executive VP of programming. “Extending our
relationships with five major studios shows our continued commitment to
providing top notch product to our consumers and affiliates. We are pleased to
offer our subscribers’ access to first run films from Sony Pictures and The
Walt Disney Studios, as well as to Warner Bros., MGM and Universal’s extensive
libraries. This furthers our pipeline of exclusive quality movie programming
well into the next decade.”

—By Ned Berke