MGM and ITV renew James Bond Movie Franchise
Deal Will Bring The Free Television Premiere of Quantum of Solace And the Entire Collection of Bond Films in HD For the First time To British Viewers
London and Los Angeles, CA, August 16, 2010 –MGM Worldwide Television has signed a multi-year renewal agreement with ITV for the James Bond movie franchise. The deal will keep the most successful film franchise of all time on ITV and its family of channels for several years and is highlighted by the free television premiere of Quantum of Solace, which continues the high octane adventures of the famous spy played by Daniel Craig. The announcement was made today by Gary Marenzi, Co-President, MGM Worldwide Television.
As part of the agreement, for the first time in the UK marketplace, all the Bond films, including Casino Royale, Goldfinger, From Russia With Love, Dr. No, GoldenEye, The Spy Who Loved Me, For Your Eyes Only, License to Kill and Diamonds are Forever, will be shown in high definition on ITV1 HD across its 2010 and 2011 schedules.
Zai Bennett, ITV Director of Digital Channels and Acquisitions, said: “James Bond is a British cinematic icon loved by ITV’s audience and we’re delighted to continue the franchise's long association with ITV, as well as the chance, for the first time, to show every Bond feature film in fantastic HD.”
Marenzi added: “We are pleased to be working with ITV on keeping the Bond franchise as vibrant as ever in high definition, which will be a big treat to Bond fans in the UK. Working closely with ITV, MGM looks forward to making this valuable franchise even more enjoyable for its scores of British fans.”
About ITV
ITV Plc is the UK’s leading advertiser-funded, free-to-air broadcaster and employs 4,000 staff worldwide within its Broadcasting, ITV Studios and Online businesses.
ITV’s broadcasting business is made up of ITV1, the UK’s largest commercial TV channel in terms of audience share, and the UK’s leading portfolio of digital channels - ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4. Annually ITV invests around £1 billion in content for its broadcast channels and its website itv.com.
Itv.com is focused on delivering short- and long-form video content from ITV programming for viewing in real time or catch-up – the ITV Player allows users to access catch-up and watch clips from the best ITV programmes, all supported by advertising.
ITV Plc’s content business, ITV Studios creates and produces original programming for content buyers worldwide. With production centres in the UK, USA, Germany, France, Spain, Australia and Scandinavia, recent hit shows and formats include primetime successes Marple, Poirot, Lewis, Hell’s Kitchen, Dancing on Ice, Come Dine with Me and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! The business also generates revenues by distributing ITV and third-party programming internationally, and through the sale of associated DVDs and merchandise.
About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., through its operating subsidiaries, 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 Domestic Networks LLC, MGM Distribution Co, MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Worldwide Digital Media, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in international TV channels reaching nearly 120 countries. MGM ownership is as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29%), TPG (21%), Sony Corporation of America (20%), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%) and Quadrangle Group (3%). For more information, visit http://www.mgm.com.
