• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Comcast Corporation and Sony Pictures Entertainment Announce Programming Deal

Posted on: Monday, 13 September 2004, 06:00 CDT

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Comcast Corporation and Sony Pictures Entertainment announced today that Comcast, Sony Pictures Entertainment and the equity partners in the MGM transaction have reached agreement on a broad programming and distribution arrangement. It will allow for the distribution of Sony Pictures' and MGM content on Comcast's Video on Demand (VOD) platform, and for the creation of a joint venture, to be managed by Comcast, establishing new cable channels featuring Sony and MGM content. While this agreement contemplates consummation of the acquisition of MGM, the parties will proceed with Sony content on a stand alone basis for VOD under any circumstances.

"We are very pleased with these new content agreements, which confirm the value of our scale and distribution platform," said Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Comcast Corporation. "This represents our first major studio deal for VOD content and will enhance the attractiveness of our VOD platform. The agreement also provides us with some very interesting channel creation opportunities."

Comcast also confirmed that it is considering becoming a minority equity investor in the proposed MGM acquisition.

Comcast Corporation is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable networks and programming content. The Company is the largest cable company in the United States, serving more than 21 million cable subscribers. The Company's content businesses include majority ownership of Comcast Spectacor, Comcast SportsNet, E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, Outdoor Life Network and G4techTV. Comcast Class A common stock and Class A Special common stock trade on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbols CMCSA and CMCSK, respectively.

About Sony Pictures Entertainment

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com/.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding Comcast Corporation's businesses which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.

Comcast Corporation

CONTACT: Investors, Marlene S. Dooner, +1-215-981-7392, or Leslie A.Arena, +1-215-981-8511, or Daniel J. Goodwin +1-215-981-7518; or Press, D'ArcyRudnay, +1-215-981-8582, all of Comcast Corporation

Web site: http://www.comcast.com/http://www.sonypictures.com/

More News in this Category