Lionsgate

Distribution

Starz Sues MGM

May 5, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Starz Sues MGM

The lawsuit accuses MGM of licensing far-and-wide more than 300 films and shows to which Starz thought it held exclusive rights.

Distribution

UPDATED: Sundance Heats Up

January 28, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on UPDATED: Sundance Heats Up

After a slow start to the 35th annual Sundance Film Festival, the weekend produced a handful of sizable deals, including from Amazon Studios, Searchlight Pictures, and Lionsgate.

Streaming

Apple Considers MGM Buyout

January 15, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Apple Considers MGM Buyout

After the abysmal start to Apple’s new streaming service, Apple TV+, the tech company is searching for relevance with a new leader and a possible strategic acquisition.

Production

Production Battle of Britain

January 15, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Production Battle of Britain

There is a mad rush by the most significant content creators, especially streaming services, to utilize the production infrastructure in England as a base of European operations.

Exhibition

Netflix at the Movies

October 2, 2019 FilmTake Comments Off on Netflix at the Movies

After a decade of primarily focusing on episodic content, Netflix wants to break the theatrical glass ceiling, especially since they are funding more original films.

Distribution

Buyer Beware

September 10, 2019 FilmTake Comments Off on Buyer Beware

Buyers at TIFF are skittish after a 6% drop in North American box office receipts in 2019. Worse still, is the dire year indie films are having, where receipts have declined 45%.

Lionsgate Films Bound For Disney
Distribution

Lionsgate Films Are Disney Bound

June 16, 2019 FilmTake Comments Off on Lionsgate Films Are Disney Bound

Starting in 2020, films released by Lionsgate will be distributed on the Hulu streaming service, and FX, the basic-cable channel now owned by Disney after the takeover of Fox.

Lionsgate Prepares Starz Sale
Finance

The Starz Farce

May 27, 2019 FilmTake Comments Off on The Starz Farce

The timing of the anonymous leak that CBS was prepared to pay Lionsgate $5 billion for Starz, raises serious questions about possible market manipulation.

Starz Lionsgate Marriage
Production

Rocky Media Marriage

May 5, 2019 FilmTake Comments Off on Rocky Media Marriage

The uneasy marriage between Lionsgate and Starz has been a rocky one from the start. The biggest clash relates to Lionsgate’s television division.

Lionsgate: Up In Flames
Distribution

Up In Flames

April 30, 2019 FilmTake Comments Off on Up In Flames

Lionsgate lobbied to become the belle of the buyout ball last year in Hollywood, but Prince Charming never arrived.