ARTS ALLIANCE MEDIA AND
SONY PICTURES TELEVISION INTERNATIONAL ANNOUCNE
DOWNLOAD-TO-OWN DISTRIBUTION DEAL IN THE UK
The recent hit, The Da Vinci Code, becomes available to customers to download
LONDON, October 17, 2006 – Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) and Arts Alliance Media (AAM), Europe’s leading provider of digital film distribution services, have signed an agreement that enables consumers in the UK to purchase download delivery of Sony Pictures movies for retention and viewing on a permanent basis.
Downloads of the recent hit, The Da Vinci Code, along with other favourites such as The Legend of Zorro, Fun with Dick and Jane and many more can be purchased through internet sites, LOVEFiLM (www.lovefilm.com), and AOL (www.aol.co.uk), starting from October 24th. The Download-to-Own (DTO)1 deal was announced today by Stuart Baxter, Executive Vice President of European Distribution, SPTI, and Mark Livingstone, President, Arts Alliance Media.
This deal furthers the existing relationship between SPTI and AAM, following the Download-To-Rent (DTR) deal announced earlier this year. With today’s announcement customers will be granted a licence to a) download digital versions of the films to their PCs for viewing on a permanent retention basis b) receive an additional copy to play on compatible portable devices and c) receive a DVD copy in the post. At a later stage this year, on selected films, customers will have the capability of burning a copy to DVD.
Commenting on the announcement, Baxter said: “The emergence of new ways to distribute our movies is critically important to our business. Today’s announcement, which is the first DTO agreement we have signed in Europe, represents a critical juncture for us as we seek to expand our distribution sales into new growth areas. AAM is pioneering models like this in the UK market and we are already working with them to supply customers with our movies for renting. Groundbreaking services like this will stimulate and grow the electronic delivery of movies in the home market and marks the next exciting phase in the ongoing expansion of our distribution business.”
Commenting on the deal, Mark Livingstone said: “We are excited to be working again with SPTI and to bring more great titles to our Download-to-Own library, furthering AAM’s reputation as Europe’s leading digital content aggregator.”
LOVEFiLM, Europe’s leading online DVD rental service, has over 450,000 customers and reaches a further 2.2 million AOL UK customers through their exclusive partnership with AOL.
Under the agreement, Arts Alliance Media will have rights to digitally distribute an initial 40 titles, with more being made available over the coming weeks, to consumers via its distribution partners, LOVEFiLM (www.lovefilm.com), which in turn powers the AOL download service (www.aol.com). Forthcoming titles being made available to download at the same time as the DVD release include Monster House and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Arts Alliance Media will be responsible for delivering the digitised and encrypted Sony Pictures movies directly to the customers of LOVEFiLM and AOL.
Full details of titles available, plus pricing information, can be found at www.lovefilm.com. Downloads are currently only compatible with Windows PlaysForSure devices (www.playsforsure.com).
Restrictions: The Sony Pictures content is only available to users in the UK subject to international copyright restrictions.
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For further information, please contact:
Kate Pidgeon: Arts Alliance Media
kate@artsalliancemedia.com / 0207 751 7512
Gemma Richardson: Arts Alliance Media
gemma@artsalliancemedia.com / 0207 751 7466
Europe - Johanna Cassells
Sony Pictures Television International
Tel: 0044 20 75331363
Email: Johanna_cassells@spe.sony.com
United States - Ron Sato
Sony Pictures Television International
Tel: 001 310 2444687
Email: ron_sato@spe.sony.com
Notes to Editors
About Sony Pictures Television International
Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) is the division of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) responsible for all television business outside of the United States. SPTI operates three complementary lines of business: 1) distribution of SPE’s feature films and television programming to television, mobile and digital content delivery outlets around the world, 2) local television production in key international markets, and 3) international television networks. In addition to being a leader in the distribution of current and classic U.S. and international films and television product worldwide, SPTI produces high profile, locally produced television in local languages. With dedicated offices in France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Miami (Latin America), the People's Republic of China, Russia, Spain and the United Kingdom, SPTI currently oversees production in nine regions of the world and is the leader in international television production among all major Hollywood studios. SPTI's worldwide television networks portfolio is a key strategy in the SPE's long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with over 40 networks in more than 100 countries reaching over 240 million viewers worldwide. SPTI is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.
About Arts Alliance Media
Arts Alliance Media (AAM), based in London, is Europe's leading provider of digital film distribution services, dedicated to building a European digital network to deliver film to the cinema, to the home and between industry players. For Download-to-Rent (DTR) and Download-To-Own (DTO), AAM provides ISPs, media companies and e-tailers with turn key solutions for acquiring rights and securely distributing digital video content over the internet to their audiences.
AAM is the largest single shareholder in LOVEFiLM, Europe's largest online DVD rental company and the first player to expand into Europe with the acquisition of Swedish online DVD rental company, Boxman, now operating as www.lovefilm.se, as well as www.lovefilm.dk in Denmark and in Germany as www.lovefilm.de. AAM provides LOVEFiLM with the technology and content for digital distribution.
AAM also provides end-to-end digital cinema solutions encompassing equipment selection, financing and integration, operator training, installation and support, and content management and delivery. Arts Alliance Digital Cinema is installing and operating the UK Film Council's 240 screen Digital Screen Network. To date, 90 screens have been installed and 61 titles and 12,250 digital shows have been played on the network. In April 2006, AAM expanded its digital cinema network into Europe, beginning with a 10-screen trial rollout in Norway.