Sky Pacts with MGM for James Bond Film Catalogue

LONDON: Sky has scored the entire James Bond film library from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios for its Sky Movies service, where the titles will be available starting in October.

Sky Movies Showcase HD customers gain access to 22 official Bond titles from EON Productions. Two non-EON titles, Casino Royale and Never Say Never Again, will also be available. The upcoming Bond film, Skyfall, which gets a theatrical release in the U.K. on October 25, joins Sky Movies Box Office and the Sky Store in spring 2013.

The first film in the franchise, Dr. No, was released on October 5, 1962. The films come into license coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Bond.

"We are simply delighted to have secured the Bond films for our customers,” commented Ian Lewis, the director of Sky Movies. "Everything about these films is iconic—whether it’s the cars, the gadgets or the catchphrases. What’s more, they’ve become hugely significant culturally; demonstrating the best of British film. It’s an honor for us to have all of them for our customers, and we will ensure that we do them justice across Sky Movies, giving our customers the best possible experience in watching them. It’s an exciting time for Sky Movies and this is just one of many exciting plans we have coming up in the months ahead."

Chris Ottinger, the president of international television distribution and acquisitions at MGM, said, "It is the first time that the entire Bond collection will be shown side-by-side on one channel and we are really pleased to be able to showcase all of the British classics on Sky Movies."