Peace Arch Entertainment Group Inc. Announces Motion Picture
Co-Financing and Distribution Agreement With Showtime Networks Inc.
TORONTO, May 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Peace Arch Entertainment Group Inc.
Toronto has concluded an agreement with Showtime Networks Inc., a subsidiary of
Viacom Inc. to co-finance and distribute a slate of motion pictures which Peace
Arch intends to release theatrically in Canada and internationally, and
Showtime will premiere on the Showtime Network in the United States. The
agreement was announced jointly today by Peace Arch Entertainment Group
president and CEO, Gary Howsam and Matthew Duda, Executive Vice President,
Program Acquisitions, Planning & Distribution at Showtime.
Under terms of the pact, Peace Arch will co-finance up to 15 motion pictures.
Once a film has been approved to be produced by both parties, Peace Arch will
acquire ownership of all non-USA rights as well as provide production support.
The agreement runs through 2007 and contemplates motion pictures with average
budgets of approximately C$15,000,000 [US$10,000,000].
International representation of exploitation rights will be handled by Peace
Arch Films Limited, the London, UK based subsidiary of the company. USA/Canada
distributor(s) managing the theatrical exhibition of the pictures will be
announced as and when finalized. The financing obligations of the company are
being supported by The Royal Bank of Scotland in London.
Howsam comments: "This agreement provides great opportunities for Peace Arch;
the production of high quality films, supply of ongoing product to our
international sales company and the chance to build a strong working
relationship with a great company like Showtime." "This agreement with Peace Arch is an important piece of Showtime's strategy to
find strategic partners to help co-finance high profile movies," said Duda. We
are pleased to have found such a strong partner in Peace Arch Entertainment." Peace Arch Entertainment Group Inc., one of Canada's foremost entertainment
companies, creates, develops, produces and distributes feature films and
proprietary television programming for worldwide markets. Peace Arch
Entertainment Group Inc. has offices in Toronto, Vancouver, London and Los
Angeles.
This press release includes statements that may constitute forward-looking
statements, usually containing the words "believe," "estimate," "project,"
"expect," or similar expressions. These statements are made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include,
but are not limited to, continued acceptance of the Company's products and
services in the marketplace, competitive factors, dependence upon third-party
vendors, availability of capital and other risks detailed in the Company's
periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making
these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to
update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this
release. DATASOURCE: Peace Arch Entertainment Group Inc.; Showtime Networks Inc.
CONTACT: Nicole Spracklin of Peace Arch Entertainment Group Inc., +1-416-487-0377 (ext. 237), ; or Bryan Byrd of Showtime Networks, Inc., +1-310-234-5219, Web site: http://www.showtime.net/ http://www.peacearch.com/
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