Lionsgate Looking to Syndicate SVOD Content
31 May, 2013
By: Erik Gruenwedel
Home Media Magazine
http://www.homemediamagazine.com/lionsgate/lionsgate-looking-syndicate-svod-content-30572
Lionsgate is eyeing syndicating to television original series currently
in production for subscription video-on-demand services such as Netflix,
Hulu Plus and Amazon Prime Instant Video.
The reverse distribution strategy comes as buzz surrounding original
programming on SVOD platforms (i.e. Netflix’s “House of Cards” and
“Arrested Development”) creates interest in distributing the content to
homes that don’t use streaming services.
Santa Monica, Calif.-based Lionsgate is readying women’s prison dramedy
“Orange Is the New Black” for release July 11 on Netflix. It is also
producing a comedy for Hulu and animated comedy for Amazon Prime Instant
Video.
“These lines are blurring,” Kevin Beggs, president of the television
group, said in a May 31 fiscal call. “I’m confident when the syndication
window opens up on a show like ['Orange Is the New Black'] … there are
going to be a number of TV players that want to license that product.”
With Lionsgate not tied down to so-called “legacy” deals with SVOD
players for blocks of content, management feels it has the ability to
sign different kinds of deals with the streaming platforms, including
reconfiguring home entertainment release windows, according to CEO Jon
Feltheimer.
“We think there is competition being created in all of the territories
[due to SVOD] that’s going to allow us to take advantage of the huge
amount of content we’ve been investing in for the past 13 years,”
Feltheimer said.
Beggs added that when Lionsgate first announced “Black,” several
networks approached asking for introductions to Netflix for possible
joint ventures. He said the interest underscores the reality that while
SVOD generates a lot of excitement in the media, more than 90 million
cable households don’t use the platforms.
“We’re pretty confident about the reverse windowing, if you will, and
what can happen going forward,” he said.
Indeed, Steve Beeks, co-COO and president of the motion picture group,
reiterated that Lionsgate licenses several TV series and movies to Hulu
and Hulu Plus.
“We expect them to be a growing customer for us in the future,” Beeks said.
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