WARNER BROS. AND ARTS ALLIANCE MEDIA ANNOUNCE
ELECTRONIC SELL-THROUGH (EST)
DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION DEAL
The recent box-office success, Superman Returns, becomes available for customers to download to own on Dec 7th, the same week as the DVD release
LONDON, December 6 2006: Warner Bros Entertainment UK and Arts Alliance Media, Europe’s leading provider of digital film distribution services, have signed an electronic sell-through digital distribution agreement to allow consumers to download Warner Bros. movies and TV series.
The first new DVD title available under the new service is Superman Returns, which was released on sell-through December 4 in the UK.
The deal covers Warner Bros’ new and back catalogue feature films and TV titles covering such features as Batman Begins and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as well as such box-office classics as The Shining and Full Metal Jacket. Many of Warner Bros hit TV series will also be available with titles to be announced shortly.
The WB/AAM deal also extends the existing VOD relationship between Warner Bros. and AAM increasing the amount of WB feature films available for download and, for the first time, making WB features available for download in the Republic of Ireland.
The content will be available initially on LOVEFiLM (www.lovefilm.com), Europe’s leading online DVD rental service, and through AOL (www.aol.co.uk).
Arts Alliance Media will also deliver Warner Bros product through their own Video on Demand network, Vizumi, which provides download services to partners.
Mark Livingstone, President of Arts Alliance Media, said "We're seeing that consumers are increasingly looking for more convenient ways to watch movies when and where they want, and this agreement means that we can offer them even more great content on demand. To allow people to download and keep films such as Superman Returns is very exciting, and we're looking forward to offering more of Warner Bros new releases and excellent catalogue in the coming months.”
Josh Berger, MD of Warner Bros. Entertainment UK, said: "Warner Bros is delighted to be in business with Arts Alliance for this new sell-through service. This deal is completely consistent with Warner Bros.’ strategy of responding to the clear demand of our customers to offer them the widest choice possible in both the movies we offer and the manner in which customers choose to get them.”
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For further information please contact
Kate Pidgeon, Arts Alliance Media:
kate@artsalliancemedia.com / +44 207 751 7512
Notes to Editors
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.
AAM provides end-to-end digital cinema solutions encompassing equipment selection, financing and integration, operator training, installation and support, and content management and delivery.
In February 2005, Arts Alliance Digital Cinema won the UK Film Council contract to install and operate 240 digital screens, the world’s first 2k digital cinema network. More information can be found at www.ukdsn.com. To date, since October 2005, 136 screens have been installed and 79 titles have been played on AAM’s UK network. In April 2006, AAM expanded its digital cinema network into Europe, beginning with a 10-screen trial rollout in Norway.
For Download-to-Rent and Download-to-Own, 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. Arts Alliance Media currently carries content from Universal Pictures, Sony, Warner Bros., Momentum, Icon, Tartan and Discovery Networks, amongst others.
AAM owned LOVEFiLM, Europe's largest online DVD rental company, until the LOVEFiLM/Video Island merger in April 2006. AAM remains the largest single shareholder of LOVEFiLM International, the merged company, and provides the technology and content for digital distribution.
For more information, visit: www.artsalliancemedia.com