Signs Rights Deals
15 January 2004 - 6:00PM
UK Regulatory
RNS Number:2557U
Medal Entertainment & Media PLC
15 January 2004
15 January 2004
MEM PLC ANNOUNCES RIGHTS DEALS WITH MAJOR BROADCASTERS
Medal Entertainment & Media plc ("MEM") announces that its wholly owned DVD and
video distribution subsidiary, Leisureview Ltd ("Leisureview"), has agreed
significant deals with two major broadcasters.
The first is a joint venture formed to develop a Channel 4 branded direct
marketing business specialising in Home Entertainment. Under the terms of the
deal, signed with 4 Ventures, the commercial arm of Channel 4, Leisureview will
be exclusive publisher with 4 Ventures providing brand support.
The initial titles will be a range of top rated factual programmes recently seen
on Channel 4 including: 'Battle of the Hood and Bismarck', 'Lost Civilisations
of the Stone Age', 'Napoleon's Waterloo', 'War Against The French', 'Spartans',
and 'Men of Iron'. None of these titles has previously been available on video
or DVD. Both Leisureview and 4 Ventures anticipate a flow of further releases.
Factual programming represents the bulk of Channel 4's production output.
The second deal has been agreed with the commercial agency within BBC Television
whereby Leisureview becomes the exclusive publisher and distributor of over 100
hours of classic BBC programming for the UK, North America and the rest of the
English speaking world. Rights cover fourteen TV series including Dickens
classics: 'Nicholas Nickleby' and 'Old Curiosity Shop', as well as other
well-known titles: 'War and Peace', '1984', 'The Lost Boys' and 'Room with a
View'.
Steve Ayres, Chief Executive of MEM, commented: "The growth strategy at
Leisureview will continue to involve the acquisition of distribution rights to a
range of factual and classic programmes. The performance of Leisureview to date
and trading in the all-important Christmas period was strong. These deals come
on the back of major co-publishing tie-ins with Carlton and National Geographic
and represent a strengthening of our product offering as the Company moves into
its next phase of growth."
For further information, please contact:
Steve Ayres, Chief Executive John West / Claire Melly
MEM plc Tavistock Communications Limited
Tel: 020 8427 2277 Tel: 020 7920 3150
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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