Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Dec 9, 2015 11:51:29 GMT -6
variety.com/2015/tv/global/al-jazeera-owned-bein-media-inks-multimillion-dollar-600-pic-deal-with-italia-film-international-1201655304/
Al Jazeera-owned beIN Media Inks Multimillion Dollar 600-pic Deal with Italia Film International
Al Jazeera-owned beIN Media group has inked a 5-year multimillion dollar 600-title output deal with Italia Film International, the prominent Beirut-based Middle East film distributor with close Hollywood ties. The pact will give it considerable content muscle and strengthen its ambitions to become a top entertainment paybox in the Arab world.
BeIn, until recently an Al Jazeera sports spinoff, is launching two channels, called beIN Movies 1 and 2 in the Middle East, in a likely pay-TV landscape game changer in the region where so far Orbit Showtime Network OSN was the single paybox offering movies, original programming and general entertainment.
Financial terms of what is being touted as the biggest output deal ever inked in the Middle East were not disclosed.
Upcoming titles it covers include Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight,” Liam Neeson-starrer “The Commuter,” “A Hologram for the King,” toplining Tom Hanks (pictured) Jackie Chan’s “Skiptrace,” Nicole Kidman-starrer “The Silent Wife,” and Arnold Schwarzenegger revenge drama “478.”
Italia Film has longstanding exclusive relationships with major Hollywood studios and indies, including Disney, Dreamworks, Glen Basner’s FilmNation, The Weinstein Company, Arclight, and Lotus Entertainment.
”This deal with Italia Film gives beIN access to top Hollywood content,” said Yousef Al-Obaidly, Deputy CEO of beIN Media Group in a statement. “We are aware of Italia Film’s ability to secure very prominent Hollywood content assets and hence we are confident that through this deal we will be able to bring major Hollywood blockbusters exclusively to beIN subscribers,” he added.
Italia Film International CEO Giuseppe Vincenti enthused that the deal “positions us as a major force across various content platforms.” “We are proud to be part of their aggressive expansion drive,” he added.
Set up as an Al Jazeera spin-off in 2014, Doha-based beIN Media Group has more than 30 channels worldwide aired mostly across the Middle East and North Africa, but also in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.
BeIN Media Group has been reported to be in talks to purchase Miramax, according to an unconfirmed unsourced recent Bloomberg report. The deal would give it a direct foothold in Hollywood. They have declined to comment.
Italia Films is a major Middle East player involved in financing, development and production of high-profile films in partnership with Hollywood-based talents, producers, directors and companies.
Al Jazeera-owned beIN Media Inks Multimillion Dollar 600-pic Deal with Italia Film International
Al Jazeera-owned beIN Media group has inked a 5-year multimillion dollar 600-title output deal with Italia Film International, the prominent Beirut-based Middle East film distributor with close Hollywood ties. The pact will give it considerable content muscle and strengthen its ambitions to become a top entertainment paybox in the Arab world.
BeIn, until recently an Al Jazeera sports spinoff, is launching two channels, called beIN Movies 1 and 2 in the Middle East, in a likely pay-TV landscape game changer in the region where so far Orbit Showtime Network OSN was the single paybox offering movies, original programming and general entertainment.
Financial terms of what is being touted as the biggest output deal ever inked in the Middle East were not disclosed.
Upcoming titles it covers include Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight,” Liam Neeson-starrer “The Commuter,” “A Hologram for the King,” toplining Tom Hanks (pictured) Jackie Chan’s “Skiptrace,” Nicole Kidman-starrer “The Silent Wife,” and Arnold Schwarzenegger revenge drama “478.”
Italia Film has longstanding exclusive relationships with major Hollywood studios and indies, including Disney, Dreamworks, Glen Basner’s FilmNation, The Weinstein Company, Arclight, and Lotus Entertainment.
”This deal with Italia Film gives beIN access to top Hollywood content,” said Yousef Al-Obaidly, Deputy CEO of beIN Media Group in a statement. “We are aware of Italia Film’s ability to secure very prominent Hollywood content assets and hence we are confident that through this deal we will be able to bring major Hollywood blockbusters exclusively to beIN subscribers,” he added.
Italia Film International CEO Giuseppe Vincenti enthused that the deal “positions us as a major force across various content platforms.” “We are proud to be part of their aggressive expansion drive,” he added.
Set up as an Al Jazeera spin-off in 2014, Doha-based beIN Media Group has more than 30 channels worldwide aired mostly across the Middle East and North Africa, but also in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.
BeIN Media Group has been reported to be in talks to purchase Miramax, according to an unconfirmed unsourced recent Bloomberg report. The deal would give it a direct foothold in Hollywood. They have declined to comment.
Italia Films is a major Middle East player involved in financing, development and production of high-profile films in partnership with Hollywood-based talents, producers, directors and companies.