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Starz Digital Media Strikes Comprehensive Movie and Television Distribution Deal With PlayStation(R)Network's Video Delivery Service

Posted on: Tuesday, 2 June 2009, 15:00 CDT

EST and VOD Offerings Launch Today in U.S. with Hit Movies From Overture Films, Starz Originals, Other Video Favorites

LOS ANGELES, June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- (E3 Expo) -- Starz Digital Media, an operating division of Starz Media, and Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) announced today at the E3 Expo the launch of a wide collection of new movie and video content on PlayStation(R)Network, which is accessible for download via PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) and PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) systems in the United States. The multi-faceted content distribution agreement widely expands the depth and breadth of movie, television, and popular video content for both electronic purchase and video-on-demand rentals for PlayStation(R) users.

Hit movies from Overture Films, including Righteous Kill (Robert De Niro, Al Pacino), and Traitor (Don Cheadle) will be available along with other films from Starz Media, including Anchor Bay Entertainment's Lower Learning (Eva Longoria Parker, Jason Biggs, Rob Corddry) and the cult classic Phantasm. Manga Entertainment's Dead Space: Downfall will be available from Starz Media's deep feature and animated film library. Each movie will be typically offered for rental or purchase in standard definition (SD) and an additional High Definition (HD) option will be offered when available.

Starz Originals from the flagship Starz premium pay TV channel ("Head Case" and "Martin Lawrence Presents 1st Amendment Stand-up") will be available for electronic sell through (EST) in SD, with more coming soon. Also included is television programming from Starz Media, including "Painkiller Jane," "The Descendants of Darkness," and "Tripping the Rift."

A wide selection of Starz Media's popular Manga Entertainment for anime lovers everywhere will also populate the rental and purchase offerings, including movie and TV series from "Ghost in the Shell," "Street Fighter," classic episodes from series such as "Robotech" and new releases including "Gurren Lagann."

Marc DeBevoise, senior vice president, digital media, business development and strategy for Starz Media and lead executive for Starz Digital Media commented, "The PlayStation Network/Starz Digital Media agreement announced today highlights the changing face of Starz and its increasing ability and wherewithal to offer mainstream and niche, targeted fare from various genres across multiple platforms and business models."

"PlayStation users alike can now enjoy an even wider range of popular long-form and short-form content for purchase and rental," said Mara Winokur, Starz Media's vice president, digital media and business development. Winokur, who brokered the deal for Starz Digital Media, noted, "We are delighted to enter into this agreement with this bold, visionary company that is redefining the face of gaming and mobile platforms."

The Starz agreement expands the PlayStation Network video delivery service now to nearly 1,900 movies and 9,400 TV episodes, many available in both SD and HD, making the PS3 system the ultimate entertainment platform, and the PSP system a leader in portable entertainment. Additionally, PlayStation Network offers movies in HD from all major motion picture studios and gives PS3 users the largest selection of movies on any gaming platform.

For more information about the content available on PlayStation Network visit: http://www.us.playstation.com.

About PlayStation(R)Network

The PlayStation(R)Network is an entertainment network that unites people and innovative entertainment to deliver captivating experiences worldwide. In addition to offering new and original forms of entertainment, the PlayStation Network supports free and community-centric online gameplay, communication tools, and PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) and PLAYSTATION(R)3 connectivity. As of May 2009, the PlayStation Network has more than 24 million registered accounts worldwide.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation(R) and PS one(R) game console, the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, the PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system, the ground-breaking PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system and its digital services PlayStation(R)Network and PlayStation(R)Store.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one game console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment systems and the PSP system for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

About Starz Digital Media

Starz Digital Media, an operating division of Starz Media, LLC, is responsible for all digital and on-demand distribution of library content from Overture Films, Anchor Bay Entertainment, Starz Originals from Starz Entertainment, and Manga Entertainment. Through a range of distribution and marketing partnerships with multichannel video providers, Internet distributors and wireless operators worldwide, Starz Digital Media makes its content available under numerous business models including download-to-own/electronic sell-through, video-on-demand, pay-per-view, subscription video-on-demand and ad-supported streaming. The division also programs and supports numerous ad-supported broadband channels and develops games and gaming-related content from many of its properties for distribution worldwide.

About Starz Media

Starz Media, LLC, is a programming production and distribution company operating worldwide. It includes the Film Roman, Anchor Bay Entertainment, and Manga Entertainment brands. Its units create animated and live-action programming - including theatrical films - and programming created under contract for other media companies. It distributes that programming, and programming acquired from outside producers, through home video retailers, theaters, broadcasters, ad supported and premium television channels, and Internet and wireless video distributors in the US and internationally. Starz Media (www.starzmedia.com) is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Capital Group.

"PlayStation", "PLAYSTATION", "PSP", "PS one" and the PlayStation logo are registered trademarks and "PS3" is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Contacts: Eric Becker Starz Entertainment & Starz Digital Media (720) 852-4065 eric.becker@starz.com Abigail Murphy Sony Computer Entertainment America (650) 655-5510 abigail_murphy@playstation.sony.com

SOURCE Starz Digital Media

Source: PR Newswire

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