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Signing Reflects Continued Growth of Company's Alternative Programming Roster
SANTA MONICA, Calif. and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 12, 2017 -- Reflecting the continued growth of its programming business, Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) has formed a joint venture with renowned executive producer Jeff Apploff to create original nonscripted series and formats for Lionsgate Television through his Apploff Entertainment banner. The deal was announced today by Lionsgate Executive Vice President Alternative Programming Jennifer O'Connell.
In addition to the Apploff deal, the Company is readying the network reality series Kicking & Screaming for FOX and Candy Crush in partnership with CBS and Activision's King Digital Media. Lionsgate's growing slate of alternative programming, spanning network, cable, and digital platforms, includes Revenge Body with Khloé Kardashian, premiering on January 12th on E!, and an upcoming series starring superstar Kevin Hart for the Company's Laugh Out Loud streaming platform. Lionsgate has also invested in leading reality producer Pilgrim Media Group.
"Jeff is a world-class showrunner, a respected collaborator and a prolific creator of high-end unscripted content with global appeal," said O'Connell. "As Lionsgate Television expands its alternative programming portfolio to include big formats that can travel around the world, we're fortunate to add Jeff and his talented team at Apploff Entertainment, including Wes Kauble and Danielle Peress, as rich sources of incredible shows and formats."
"I've built my entire career surrounding myself with amazing people who do incredible things, and Kevin, Sandra, Jennifer, Brian and the rest of the Lionsgate team are beyond exceptional," said Apploff, the President & CEO of Apploff Entertainment. "The opportunity for us to partner with a prestigious studio ramping up its unscripted slate was a no-brainer. Together we will form a creative force laser-focused on collaborating with top broadcasters and leading platforms to deliver quality content to audiences around the world."
Apploff Entertainment is a cutting edge production company that specializes in creating, developing and producing world-class content and groundbreaking formats globally in all forms of media. The company is renowned for its work with top broadcast networks, as well as creating and packaging custom content for world-famous mobile apps, celebrities and beloved brands.
Most recently, Apploff created the primetime musical game show Beat Shazam for FOX, which will be produced in conjunction with Mark Burnett. He also sold an original musical competition show and is preparing to shoot the broadcast pilot this year. Previously, Apploff executive produced the primetime network game show BOOM! for FOX, alongside Keshet and Dick Clark Productions. He also created and executive produced on the series Don't Forget the Lyrics! and Let's Ask America. In addition, Apploff served as executive producer on Take Me Out, Total Blackout, and Million Dollar Money Drop.
The deal was negotiated for Lionsgate by Laura Kennedy, Executive Vice President of Television Operations & Corporate Development, Audrey Lee, Executive Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, Rahwa Ghebre-Ab, Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs, and Brian Tannenbaum, Vice President, Unscripted Television.
Apploff is represented by WME and Abrams, Garfinkel, Margolis & Bergson LLP.
ABOUT LIONSGATE
Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) is a vertically integrated next generation global content leader with a diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, premium pay television networks, home entertainment, global distribution and sales, interactive ventures and games and location-based entertainment.
With the acquisition of Starz, Lionsgate adds to its portfolio of businesses the flagship STARZ premium pay network serving nearly 25 million subscribers and the STARZENCORE platform with over 31 million subscribers. The combined company will operate five over-the-top (OTT) streaming services and the Starz app delivering content directly to consumers.
The Company's feature film business spans eight labels and includes the blockbuster Hunger Games franchise, the Now You See Me and John Wick series, the critically-acclaimed box office hit La La Land, which won a record-breaking seven Golden Globes, Hacksaw Ridge, Tyler Perry's Boo! A Madea Halloween, CBS Films/Lionsgate's Hell or High Water, Roadside Attractions' Manchester by the Sea, Codeblack Films' breakout concert film Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain and Pantelion Films' Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S.
One of the largest independent television businesses in the world, Lionsgate's slate of premium quality series encompasses nearly 90 shows on more than 40 different networks. These include the ground-breaking Orange is the New Black, the fan favorite Nashville, the syndication success The Wendy Williams Show, the acclaimed drama The Royals, the Golden Globe-nominated Casual, the breakout success Greenleaf and hit Starz series including Outlander, Black Sails, Survivor's Remorse and Power, the second highest-rated premium pay television series of 2016.
Lionsgate's home entertainment business is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rates. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of more than 16,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as a foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate, Summit Entertainment and Starz brands are synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world. www.lionsgate.com
