HBO Series Now Available in iTunes
May 13, 2008
It’s confirmed: HBO has hit iTunes and now you can download The Wire, Rome, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, Deadwood (another season, please,) and what really makes it all worth it: Flight of the Conchords. Ladies (and gentlemen) of the World, rejoice. - From Gizmodo
HBO Bringing Shows to iTunes!?
May 12, 2008
According to Portfolio, Apple and HBO will team up to offer HBO original programming on iTunes in the next couple of weeks, and HBO may receive variable pricing and/or a higher profit percentage for its shows than other content providers. This is huge not only because it marks HBO’s first big move into the online media market, but also because they’ve managed to strong arm a notoriously stingy Apple into their own financial terms.
If HBO does come to iTunes, it will be their first mainstream venture into the online media market. They’ve been hesitant up until now, presumably because it might cannibalize subscription revenue. While they are testing an online on-demand system with a planned national rollout, its currently only available in Wisconsin, and requires a subscription to HBO through cable providers.
- From Gizmodo
Watch out HBO & Showtime: New Joint Premium TV Channel Venture By Viacom/Paramount/MGM/Lionsgate
April 20, 2008
NEW YORK, April 20, 2008 – Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) have formed a joint venture that creates a next-generation premium television channel and video on demand service that combines new and classic feature film output and original television series of five leading studios. The new premium channel, which will launch in the fall of 2009, was announced jointly today by Philippe Dauman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Viacom Inc.; Brad Grey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Paramount Pictures; Harry E. Sloan, Chairman and CEO, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM); and Jon Feltheimer, Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lionsgate.
The new venture will have access to Paramount and Paramount Vantage titles released theatrically on or after January 1, 2008 and MGM, United Artists and Lionsgate titles released theatrically on or after January 1, 2009. The venture’s programming slate will have exclusive access during the pay television window to such recent and highly anticipated films as Iron Man, Star Trek, Pink Panther 2, Cloverfield, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Shutter Island, GI Joe, Love Guru, and Valkyrie, along with many others currently in production including planned new installments of Robocop and Outer Limits.
In addition, the new venture will have access to motion picture titles spanning the vast libraries of the five studios, which libraries include Braveheart, Forrest Gump and the Mission: Impossible, The Godfather and Star Trek franchises from Paramount; the James Bond, Pink Panther and Rocky franchises from MGM; and Dirty Dancing, Reservoir Dogs, Crash, Monster’s Ball, the Saw franchise, the Tyler Perry catalogue and The Blair Witch Project from Lionsgate. The new venture will also feature new original television series created by the five studios.
Viacom will provide operational support to the venture, including marketing and affiliate services through its MTV Networks division.
Dauman said: “This venture has the potential to be a game changer for the industry. We are building an innovative service that will use traditional and new digital distribution technologies to bring great film and television entertainment directly to the consumer. By combining the output of Paramount with MGM and Lionsgate, two film and television powerhouses, we are creating a premium film and television programming brand with unique flexibility to bring consumers the very best blockbuster movies and innovative TV series.
“We are extremely pleased to be in business with MGM and Lionsgate in this exciting new venture which will provide our companies with a strong presence in the premium TV marketplace well into the future.”
Grey said, “For close to a century, Paramount has produced and distributed some of America’s best-known and beloved films — a tradition that continues today, with an outstanding lineup set through 2009. That commitment to great entertainment is matched by Paramount’s focus on creating new and innovative platforms that offer more access and flexibility to consumers. We look forward to launching this historic premium entertainment service with a strong slate that includes new releases like Cloverfield, Iron Man, and Star Trek alongside Paramount’s legendary library.”
Sloan said, “At MGM, we are very pleased to have found two partners that share our vision of providing first-run movies and premium-quality original television programming across linear and digital platforms in a new way. Our approach delivers unique flexibility for program distributors as well as consumer options that will provide the highest quality entertainment. The newly revitalized MGM, under the direction of Mary Parent, Chairman, Worldwide Motion Picture Group, is preparing to bring top projects to the venture including the newly acquired Robert Ludlum’s The Maratese Circle, which will star Denzel Washington as well as franchised movies based on James Bond, Pink Panther, and Thomas Crown.”
Feltheimer said, “We are excited to be working with two of the most respected studios in the business to start a new venture which marshals the historic legacy of the past, the filmed entertainment leadership of the present and a vision for the digital marketplace of the future. Our prestigious and prolific libraries, diverse and commercially powerful new feature film releases and enormous television series development expertise combine to make this a formidable and uniquely compelling entertainment service from day one. This is a true next-generation premium content offering for the consumer.”
HBO tries to recover from the Sopranos Hangover
March 24, 2008
HBO is loading some big comedy guns. The network has given pilot orders to “Suburban Shootout,” written by Michelle Ashford and directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, and to Darren Star’s “Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl.” The two join Bob Odenkirk and David Cross’ comedy pilot “David’s Situation,” which was picked up last week following the exit of entertainment president Carolyn Strauss. Based on the critically praised British series, “Shootout” is a dark comedy about a woman who escapes the city for suburban bliss only to find herself caught between two rival gangs of homicidal housewives as they vie for control of their idyllic town.
Via HR
Cross & Odenkirk return to HBO
March 22, 2008
It’s encore time for the guys from “Mr. Show.” Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, whose late 1990s HBO sketch comedy remains a cult fave, are back at the pay cabler. HBO just picked up the pilot “David’s Situation,” starring Cross as himself. Odenkirk and Cross first revealed the pilot order on their web site. The duo both wrote the script; Odenkirk will also direct.
Via Variety
Nikke: TOLDJA! Carolyn Strauss Officially Exits As Prez Of Troubled HBO Entertainment
March 17, 2008
It’s now official. HBO just announced that Carolyn Strauss is leaving her longtime gig (though the pay channel took great pains to claim she would get a fat production deal). “Everyone felt this was the right time,” an insider told me about her firing because the pay channel has lost all its sizzle. Heck, HBO hasn’t had a new hit series in, like, forever. The pay channel was going to announce the shake-up Monday, but then I broke the news Saturday. Not only will there be a new President of HBO Entertainment hired but also a new Head of Series, I’m told.