Sony Pictures Television, RTL Germany Strike Free TV Content Deal

9:50 AM PDT 9/11/2012 by Georg Szalai

16
30
0
0
220
Email
Print
Comments

The multi-year arrangement includes such upcoming films as "The Smurfs 2" and Roland Emmerich's "White House Down," as well as library titles like "The Da Vinci Code."

Sony Corp.'s Sony Pictures Television unit has signed an exclusive content deal with RTL Group's RTL Germany that covers a range of feature films and TV shows, the companies announced Tuesday.

RTL Group Revenue Rises, Earnings Drop in First Half

Sony Pictures Television Buys British Production Banner Left Bank Pictures

The multi-year deal, whose financial terms weren't disclosed, includes the free TV premieres for Germany of Sony theatrical releases starting in 2013, including Roland Emmerich's White House Down, sci-fi film Elysium by Neill Blomkamp and The Smurfs 2.

Also included are TV shows that start with the 2013 fall season and such library titles as The Da Vinci Code, Hancock and what the companies called "a selection" from the Spider-Man and Men in Black franchises.

Kerstin Guehne, vp, distribution of Sony Pictures Television Deutschland, said the deal will allow the company to deepen its relationship with RTL and ensure "optimal positioning" of Sony's content.

"This is a continuation of our plans to invest more in new programming," said Joerg Graf, RTL Germany's head of programming acquisitions.

Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com

Twitter: @georgszalai