A&E and Lionsgate Announce Home Entertainment Distribution Partnership

A+E Networks(TM), an award-winning global media content company, and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company, have forged a partnership under which Lionsgate will handle home entertainment distribution of programming from A&E(R) Network, HISTORY(R) and Lifetime(R), the two companies announced today.

The partnership encompasses hit programs from A+E Networks' diverse content catalogue including Storage Wars, Shipping Wars and Duck Dynasty from A&E, HISTORY's Pawn Stars, American Pickers and America The Story of US, and Lifetime's Dance Moms and the library of Lifetime Original Movies. A+E Networks' Home Entertainment catalogue features thousands of hours of acclaimed programming such as the hit A&E mini-series, Pride & Prejudice; acquired classic TV series including Monty Python's Flying Circus, Farscape, Kids in the Hall, and Homicide: Life on the Street; and programming from A+E Networks' exclusive home entertainment distribution partnership with Major League Baseball, including the annual World Series Championship Film and World Series Collector's Edition, featuring complete games from the World Series.

"The breadth and depth of A+E Networks content, including our hit shows, specials, and mini-series have propelled our home entertainment business over the past 21 years. From our award-winning packaging to our unique product configurations, A+E Networks has built a dynamic home entertainment label," said Steve Ronson, Executive Vice President, Enterprises, A+E Networks. "Lionsgate's home entertainment leadership and track record for excellence in this space makes them an ideal partner for our brands. We look forward to working together on this new partnership."

"We're delighted to partner with A+E Networks as part of the continuing growth and diversification of our home entertainment business," said Lionsgate Co-Chief Operating Officer and Motion Picture Group President Steve Beeks. "A+E Networks is the kind of entrepreneurial, dynamic and fast-growing company with whom we like to be in business. The growth trajectory of their channels is one of the biggest success stories in our industry today, and we expect them to be a rich, varied and exciting source of highly branded product for our home entertainment consumers for years to come."

With three of the most powerful brands in the media landscape - A&E, HISTORY and Lifetime - A+E Networks is the #2 ad supported cable network group in the delivery of adults. A+E Networks' Q2 2012 was the most watched second quarter ever among all demos; the company has experienced year-over-year viewership growth in 10 consecutive quarters.

Lionsgate continues to grow and diversify the home entertainment distribution of its own and third-party product, acquiring Summit Entertainment in January 2012 and recently pacting to distribute the Miramax library in North America. The Company also recently extended its longterm distribution agreement for StudioCanal's library in North America. Lionsgate is an industry leader in DVD-to-box office and VOD-to-box office conversion rates. It will launch the global blockbuster The Hunger Games on DVD and digital platforms August 18.

ABOUT A+E NETWORKS

A+E Networks(TM) LLC is an award-winning, global media content company offering consumers a diverse communications environment ranging from television networks to websites, to DVDs to gaming and educational software. Led by three iconic brands A&E Network(R), HISTORY(R), and Lifetime(R), A+E Networks also includes LMN, BIO(TM), History International(TM), Lifetime Real Women(R), Military History(TM), History en Espanol(TM), Crime & Investigation Network(TM), and A&E IndieFilms(R). A+E Networks channels and branded entertainment reach more than 300 million households in over 150 countries around the world. A+E Networks is a joint venture of Disney-ABC Television Group, Hearst Corporation and NBC Universal.

ABOUT LIONSGATE

Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms and international distribution and sales. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of primetime cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 23 shows on 16 networks spanning its primetime production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as the multiple Emmy Award-winning Mad Men, Weeds and Nurse Jackie, along with the drama Boss, the new comedy Anger Management, the upcoming network series Nashville and Next Caller, the syndication successes Tyler Perry's House of Payne, its spinoff Meet the Browns, For Better Or Worse, The Wendy Williams Show, Are We There Yet? and the upcoming Orange Is The New Black, an original series for Netflix.

Its feature film business has been fueled by such recent successes as the blockbuster first installment of The Hunger Games franchise, which has already grossed nearly $700 million at the worldwide box office, The Expendables, The Lincoln Lawyer, The Cabin in the Woods, Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection and Margin Call. With the January 2012 acquisition of Summit Entertainment, the Company has now added the blockbuster Twilight Saga, which has grossed more than $2.5 billion at the worldwide box office, to its current slate, giving the Company the two premier young adult franchises in the world. Recent Summit hits include Red, Letters to Juliet, Knowing and the Academy Award-winning Best Picture, The Hurt Locker.

Lionsgate's home entertainment business is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 15,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate and Summit brands remain synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

 

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