Sony to Distribute CBS Films Packaged Media

18 Nov, 2009 By: Erik Gruenwedel

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CBS Corp.’s nascent theatrical unit, CBS Films, has inked a theatrical, marketing and home entertainment distribution deal with Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group.

CBS Films — established in 2007 — plans to develop and produce four to six movies a year spanning all genres, with production budgets of up to $50 million per film.

Under the three-year deal, Sony Pictures will oversee international distribution of CBS Films titles, with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment handling all home entertainment distribution, including digital.

The deal is separate from Paramount Home Entertainment’s agreement to distribute CBS television and movie content on DVD and Blu-ray Disc, according to a source familiar with the deals.

CBS Films’ first release, Extraordinary Measures, an inspirational drama inspired by the true story of John Crowley, which stars Harrison Ford as a man who risks his family’s future to pursue a cure for his children’s life threatening disease, debuts Jan. 22, 2010.

Other titles include The Back-Up Plan, a romantic comedy starring Jennifer Lopez, and Beastly, starring Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical) and Alex Pettyfer, due July 30, 2010.

Sony and CBS Films also collaborated to produce Faster, an action-thriller starring Dwayne Johnson and Billy Bob Thornton, set to begin production in early 2010.

“This deal allows us to increase our overseas output with more terrific motion pictures,” Jeff Blake, chairman, Sony Pictures worldwide marketing and distribution, said in a statement.

 

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