MGM Signs new Home Entertainment Distribution Agreement with Twentieth Century Fox (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

[COLOR= black]MGM SIGNS NEW HOME ENTERTAINMENT DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH[/COLOR][COLOR= black][/COLOR]

[COLOR= black]TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT[/COLOR][COLOR= black][/COLOR]

[COLOR= black] [/COLOR]

[COLOR= black]LOS ANGELES, CA April 14, 2011[/COLOR][COLOR= black] – MGM announced today that the company has renewed its worldwide Blu-ray Disc and DVD distribution pact with Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment through 2016. As part of the new agreement, Fox will now oversee electronic-sell-through for MGM titles and will continue to handle MGM’s vast and extensive movie and television library, as well as distribute [/COLOR]several upcoming new release [COLOR= black]productions in the home entertainment market, including the next JAMES BOND film, set for global theatrical release on November 9, 2012.”[/COLOR]

[COLOR= black]“Twentieth Century Fox is a valued partner that has taken great care of the MGM library for many years with the highest degree of integrity,” said Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum, Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of MGM. “They are a tremendous asset to the studio as we look towards the future.”[/COLOR]

“MGM and UA have made enormous contributions throughout the history of film, and we’re proud to be part of that legacy,” said Fox Filmed Entertainment’s chairmen and CEO’s Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman. “We’re delighted that we are extending our partnership with the studio under the leadership of our friends Gary and Roger.”

[COLOR= black]Twentieth Century Fox began managing MGM’s international home video distribution in 1999. The flourishing partnership expanded in 2006 when MGM signed a worldwide distribution pact with Fox. Fox’s home entertainment group has enhanced the MGM legacy by maximizing key franchises and legendary films from the library that include JAMES BOND, ROCKY and WEST SIDE STORY. Additionally, Fox leveraged MGM’s deep catalog to offer a selection of never before released classic films and TV shows via CreateSpace’s DVD On-Demand service.[/COLOR]

[COLOR= black]“The MGM brand has become part of our DNA,” said Mike Dunn, President Worldwide, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. “We are privileged to handle this incredible library of acclaimed films, many that rank as the most commercially and critically successful films of all time.”[/COLOR]

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music, and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world’s largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,100 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Distribution Co., MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in domestic and international TV channels reaching over 130 countries. For more information, visit www.mgm.com.



About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC (TCFHE) is a recognized global industry leader and a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company. Representing 75 years of innovative and award-winning filmmaking from Twentieth Century Fox, TCFHE is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming, acquisitions and original productions on DVD, Blu-ray Disc Digital Copy, Video On Demand and Digital Download. The company also releases all products globally for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce throughout the world.

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[Osato]

This is great news. Glad MGM is sticking with Fox for home video releases.

Hopefully we get the other 9 Bond films on blu ray soon!!

 

[Cinescott]

Has Fox done everything for MGM with regard to DVD and Blu-ray? I seem to remember some MGM titles that didn't have Fox identified on them that seemed pretty marginal in quality.

 

[ahollis]

Originally Posted by Cinescott

Has Fox done everything for MGM with regard to DVD and Blu-ray? I seem to remember some MGM titles that didn't have Fox identified on them that seemed pretty marginal in quality.

Not quite sure what you mean. Fox has been releasing MGM titles since the middle of 2006. The only exception are the few titles that Criterion has released such as THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER. The new deal runs through 2016. The first MGM Blu-ray that I remember Fox releasing was A BRIDGE TOO FAR and BATTLE OF BRITTAN, but I could be wrong.

 

[Cinescott]

Originally Posted by ahollis





Not quite sure what you mean. Fox has been releasing MGM titles since the middle of 2006. The only exception are the few titles that Criterion has released such as THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER. The new deal runs through 2016. The first MGM Blu-ray that I remember Fox releasing was A BRIDGE TOO FAR and BATTLE OF BRITTAN, but I could be wrong.

The article stated that Fox has been managing home video for MGM since '99. World distribution in 2006. Some of the MGM DVD titles I had owned in the past seemed to be pretty shoddy with regard to quality. I was just wondering if Fox had taken ownership and responsibility for everything released under the MGM name since '99.

 

[JoHud]

The Fox logo did not start appearing on the menus or on the DVD credits until around 2006. I agree that MGM releases before that were indeed shoddy at times (with many titles still letterboxed), but once the Fox started being advertised in the co-releases, their DVD quality improved noticeably, although they did tend to stick with old MGM masters for re-releases (Vera Cruz, for example).

 

[ahollis]

Originally Posted by Cinescott




The article stated that Fox has been managing home video for MGM since '99. World distribution in 2006. Some of the MGM DVD titles I had owned in the past seemed to be pretty shoddy with regard to quality. I was just wondering if Fox had taken ownership and responsibility for everything released under the MGM name since '99.

I think the article says that Fox had handled international MGM product since 1999. MGM handled their own domestic product until 2005 then Sony handled it for a year, then Fox took over in 2006. Fox does not have any ownership in the the MGM owned library, but are just distributors and marketers for the product. Fox and MGM make the decisions what and when a title is released. Fox is dependent on the transfers that MGM gives them, which is the reason why some of the Blu-ray discs have not lived up to expectations. This of course is the reason the Fox logo did not start showing up until 2006.

 

[Cinescott]

Originally Posted by ahollis





I think the article says that Fox had handled international MGM product since 1999. MGM handled their own domestic product until 2005 then Sony handled it for a year, then Fox took over in 2006. Fox does not have any ownership in the the MGM owned library, but are just distributors and marketers for the product. Fox and MGM make the decisions what and when a title is released. Fox is dependent on the transfers that MGM gives them, which is the reason why some of the Blu-ray discs have not lived up to expectations. This of course is the reason the Fox logo did not start showing up until 2006.

I stand corrected.

 

[Finn]

Originally Posted by ahollis

I think the article says that Fox had handled international MGM product since 1999. MGM handled their own domestic product until 2005 then Sony handled it for a year, then Fox took over in 2006.

correct.