Alliance Atlantis Announces Licensing of International Second Window Rights for the CSI Franchise
TORONTO, July 14 - Alliance Atlantis
Communications Inc. today announced the licensing of certain international
second window rights for the CSI franchise including CSI: Crime Scene
Investigation, CSI: Miami and CSI: NY. The license fees generated for these
international second window rights total approximately US$250 million.
"We have now secured second window licensing agreements in a number of
countries including France, Spain, Australia and, most recently, Germany
and the U.K.," said Ted Riley, Executive Managing Director of International
Content Distribution for Alliance Atlantis. "These agreements with
international broadcasters demonstrate the strong interest in the
re-licensing of CSI around the world."
"We are exceptionally pleased with the performance of the CSI franchise
in the international marketplace," said Phyllis Yaffe, Chief Executive
Officer of Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. "As we have previously
stated, the franchise has outperformed our original expectations in
international first window and DVD sales. With today's announcement we can
confirm that the trend continues. International second window rights are
worth significantly more than we had originally anticipated. We continue to
have active discussions with broadcasters in other territories regarding
further second window licensing opportunities."
International broadcasters that have acquired second window rights to
the franchise include RTL in Germany, Five in the United Kingdom, TF1 in
France, Telecinco in Spain, Nine Network in Australia and CTV in Canada.
These sales include both produced and future episodes of CSI. To date, the
CSI franchise has produced 287 hours of programming inventory.
Alliance Atlantis also announced video-on-demand (VOD) partnering
agreements for the CSI franchise in certain European territories including
Germany and the United Kingdom, to take advantage of emerging opportunities
in cable and online distribution.
About the CSI Franchise
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami and CSI: NY are
co-productions with CBS Paramount Television and Alliance Atlantis, which
distributes the series internationally.
About Alliance Atlantis Communications
Alliance Atlantis offers Canadians 13 well-branded specialty television
channels boasting targeted, high-quality programming. The Company also
co-produces and distributes the hit CSI franchise and indirectly holds a
51% limited partnership interest in Motion Picture Distribution LP, a
leading distributor of motion pictures in Canada, with a growing presence
in motion picture distribution in the United Kingdom and Spain. The
Company's common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange - trading
symbols AAC.A and AAC.B. The Company's Web site is
http://www.allianceatlantis.com.
SOURCE Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc.
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