Lionsgate Studios Corp

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lionsgate Studios Corp
Lionsgate Studios
Company typePublic
NasdaqLION
PredecessorLionsgate (film and TV business)
FoundedMay 14, 2024; 5 days ago (2024-05-14)
Headquarters2700 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, California
OwnerLionsgate (87.2%)
Divisions
Subsidiaries
Websiteinvestors.lionsgatestudios.com

Lionsgate Studios Corp, trading as Lionsgate Studios, is an American production company formed after the spin-off of Lionsgate's film and TV business in May 2024.[1]

Lionsgate Studios' portfolio of companies includes Entertainment One, Summit Entertainment, 3 Arts Entertainment, Amblin Partners and Pilgrim Media Group.

History[edit]

In December 2023, Lionsgate intended a plan to split its film and television assets with Starz following the completion of the company's acquisition of Entertainment One. The company's Studios division will merge with Screaming Eagle Corp., a special-purpose acquisition company led by Eli Baker, to form a separate publicly traded company, Lionsgate Studios Corp. The transaction sets a $4.6-billion value on Lionsgate Studios and the deal was closed on May 7, 2024. The company was launched on May 14, 2024, and it has been trading on Nasdaq via the stock symbol LION. Lionsgate will remain the controlling shareholder, owning around 87 percent of Lionsgate Studios following the split.

Films[edit]

Aside from home video distribution of films sub-licensed from other studios, Lionsgate Studios' library consists of its own in-house productions, as well as films from Summit Entertainment and several defunct studios, including Trimark Pictures (acquired in 2000), Artisan Entertainment (acquired in 2003), Overture Films (Starz's former feature film division whose library Lionsgate acquired after the 2016 Starz merger), Hearst Entertainment, Tribune Entertainment, American Zoetrope (distribution deal in 2010, with certain exceptions), Modern Entertainment (library acquired in 2005), Vestron Pictures (acquired by Artisan in 1991), The Weinstein Company and Dimension Films (post-2005 titles only) (through its 18.9% stake in Spyglass Media Group), Entertainment One, Koch Entertainment, Christal Films, Alliance Films (including titles by Alliance Atlantis, Atlantis Films, Salter Street Films and Cineplex Odeon Films) and Phase 4 Films (acquired in 2023). Their complete ownership depends on the worldwide regions of license.

Divisions[edit]

Home entertainment[edit]

Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Company typeDivision
IndustryHome video
Predecessors
Founded1999; 25 years ago (1999)
Headquarters
2700 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, California
,
U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Products
ServicesFilm distribution
ParentLionsgate Studios
Divisions
Websitewww.lionsgate.com

Before Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment was formed, Lions Gate's video releases were distributed by Universal Studios Home Video and Columbia TriStar Home Video. Lions Gate Films decided to create two home video labels: Avalanche Home Entertainment, which released smaller Canadian B-movies on video and DVD; and Sterling Home Entertainment (a joint venture with Scanbox International, a Danish film company), which released American low-budget movies on video and DVD in the late 1990s.

In June 2000, Lions Gate purchased Trimark Pictures and its in-house home video unit. These three companies: Avalanche, Sterling, and Trimark Home Video were merged into Lions Gate Home Entertainment in 2001. After the acquisition, Sterling Home Entertainment was then renamed to Studio Home Entertainment, which later on folded itself into Lionsgate.[2] In 2003, Lions Gate purchased Artisan Entertainment, the latter folded into Lions Gate in 2004.

Its library of more than 8,000 films owes some of its size to output deals with other studios. Mainly concerned with the distribution of the Lions Gate film library, it also distributed Barbie videos from Mattel, Clifford the Big Red Dog videos from Scholastic, Stickin' Around videos from Nelvana, and MGA Entertainment.[3] Lionsgate Home Entertainment also previously distributed videos from Jim Henson Home Entertainment[4] until 2012 when Henson signed a deal with Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment. Through Artisan, the company also released the back catalog of ITC Entertainment until 2013, when ITC's successor-in-interest ITV Studios Global Entertainment signed a deal with Shout! Factory.

In 2001, in Quebec it was renamed Crystal Films, and in Ontario and other provinces, Maple Pictures.

In August 2001, Lions Gate Home Entertainment signed a deal with DIC Entertainment to distribute their back catalogue of animated titles on video and DVD in the United States, replacing DIC's long time partner Buena Vista Home Entertainment.[5] The partnership only lasted a year, as in 2003 DIC started to distribute their shows through the Sterling Entertainment Group (no connection to the ex-Lionsgate subsidiary Sterling Home Entertainment) and later other distribution companies like Shout! Factory, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and NCircle Entertainment.

Lionsgate's movies are released on DVD, Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray as well as on the PSP through Universal Media Disc.

In 2008, Lionsgate Home Entertainment contracted with HIT Entertainment for DVD distribution in the US after its contract with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment expired.[6] This deal later ended in 2014 and HIT's DVD distribution was transferred to Universal Studios Home Entertainment.[7]

On August 4, 2008, Lionsgate announced that it had completed a deal with Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment to acquire the distribution rights to several ABC Studios/Touchstone Television shows including According to Jim, Reaper, Hope & Faith, 8 Simple Rules and Boy Meets World.[8]

In 2009, American Greetings struck a deal with Lionsgate to release AG content on DVD after its deal with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment ended.[9] Though an exception was made with Strawberry Shortcake, of which it remained with Fox, as it was a prior deal made in 2003 where American Greetings signed a deal with Fox to distribute the franchise.

Until 2012, Lionsgate also distributed most of the theatrical properties held by Republic Pictures on DVD under license from Paramount Pictures. The deal also expanded to include some non-marquee films originally released by Paramount themselves. Recently, with the folding of Republic, Lionsgate's function was transferred to Olive Films (and later Kino Lorber).

In February 2011, Lionsgate and StudioCanal made an agreement to release 550 titles from the Miramax film library worldwide replacing Miramax's long time partner Buena Vista Home Entertainment.[10] Following ViacomCBS' acquisition of a 49% stake in Miramax, Paramount Home Entertainment took over the home media rights to the Miramax catalog.

In 2012, LGHE started distributing Summit Entertainment releases on DVD and Blu-ray as a result of Lionsgate acquiring that company.

On December 8, 2016, Lionsgate acquired Starz Inc. making Lionsgate the parent company of the North American branches of Anchor Bay Entertainment and Manga Entertainment.[11] The former was folded into Lionsgate Home Entertainment shortly after the buyout and the latter is planned to be relaunched in the near future.[12]

On June 30, 2021, Lionsgate's distribution deal with 20th Century Home Entertainment expired, and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment began exclusively distributing Lionsgate's releases in North America as of July 1, 2021.[13]

When Lionsgate's acquisition of eOne was completed on December 27, 2023, LGHE started distributing eOne's physical releases worldwide.

Studio complexes[edit]

Lionsgate Studios Yonkers[edit]

On September 5, 2019, Great Point Capital Management signed a deal with Lionsgate to build a new production facility in Yonkers, New York, with Lionsgate becoming a long-term anchor tenant and investor. As the anchor tenant, Lionsgate will have naming rights to the studio. Construction on the site will start in November, and the facility will be running in late autumn 2020. The $100 million complex will include three 20,000-square-feet and two 10,000-square-feet stages, a fully operational back lot and the opportunity to create a location-based entertainment property. The studio, will be built next to the former Otis Elevator Company building in Getty Square and is expected to provide 420 new jobs in Yonkers, the developers said. They received numerous tax breaks and exemptions to build the project. National Resources will be an investment partner and project developer, responsible for all phases of design and construction of the studio complex.[14] On April 8, 2020, it was announced that the developers locked down $60 million in financing while the rest of the $40 million in the second phase of the project will be anchored by entertainment firm Lionsgate.[15]

Lionsgate Newark studio[edit]

In 2022, the city of Newark, New Jersey announced that a major new film and television production studio overlooking Weequahic Park and Weequahic Golf Course, Lionsgate Newark Studios, would open in 2024 on the 15-acre former Seth Boyden housing projects site at 101 Center Terrace in the Dayton section of the city near Evergreen Cemetery. Lionsgate Newark will partner on public relations and community affairs with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.[16][17][18]

Television[edit]

Lionsgate Television produced such series as Nashville, Anger Management, The Dead Zone, 5ive Days to Midnight, Weeds, Nurse Jackie, Boss, Tyler Perry's House of Payne and the Emmy Award-winning Mad Men. Lionsgate also acquired TV syndication firm Debmar-Mercury in 2006[19] with CBS Television Distribution handling ad-sales with the exception for Meet the Browns, as the ad-sales are handled by Disney–ABC Domestic Television and Turner Television / Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution co-distributing the series. In March 2013, Lionsgate signed with Mars One (a Dutch nonprofit with space agency and aerospace backers intent on colonizing Mars) to produce a reality TV show.[20] In August 2018, Lionsgate signed a first-look television development agreement with Universal Music Group.[21]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Cobb, Kayla (2024-05-14). "Lionsgate Studios Starts Trading on Nasdaq as Split From Starz Continues". TheWrap. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  2. ^ Harris, Dana (2000-10-24). "VCL munches Danish distrib Scanbox". Variety. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  3. ^ "Lionsgate, MGA Entertainment seal distribution deal :: Businessofcinema.com". Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  4. ^ "Jim Henson Company & Lionsgate ink home entertainment distribution deal :: Businessofcinema.com". Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  5. ^ "DIC Teams With Lions Gate In Home Video Deal". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on September 26, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  6. ^ Arnold, Thomas K. (March 25, 2008). "Lionsgate joins the HIT parade". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 27, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  7. ^ McLean, Thomas J. (2 May 2014). "HIT Taps Universal for Home Entertainment Distribution". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  8. ^ "Lionsgate to Distribute Select Disney Shows | homemediamagazine.com". Archived from the original on February 2, 2009. Retrieved November 17, 2008.
  9. ^ "Film company Lionsgate extends relationship with American Greetings". January 7, 2009.
  10. ^ "Lionsgate, Studiocanal and Miramax Enter Into Home Entertainment Distribution Agreements". Yahoo! Finance. February 11, 2011.
  11. ^ Lieberman, David (December 8, 2016). "Lionsgate Closes Deal To Buy Starz". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 9, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  12. ^ "Manga". www.manga.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  13. ^ "Lionsgate Teams with Sony in New Multi-Year Home Entertainment Pact". February 26, 2021. Archived from the original on September 26, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  14. ^ "Lionsgate Planning $100 Million New York Studio Complex". Variety. 5 September 2019. Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  15. ^ "Developers of Lionsgate-anchored film studio lock down $60M in financing". The Real Deal. 8 April 2020. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  16. ^ Tully, Tracey (May 17, 2022). "$100 Million Film Studio to Rise from Rubble of Ex-Public Housing Site". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  17. ^ "Lionsgate, Great Point Partner for Major New Jersey Studio Complex". May 17, 2022. Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  18. ^ "Hollywood on Newark Bay? Officials say Lionsgate film & TV studio is coming to Brick City". May 17, 2022. Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  19. ^ Lionsgate (July 12, 2006). "Lionsgate Expands Into Television Syndication Business, Acquires Debmar-Mercury". Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  20. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2014-03-13). "Mission To Colonize Mars To Become Reality TV Series - Deadline". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
  21. ^ Milman, Lilly (2018-08-06). "Lionsgate and Universal Music Sign Multi-Year Development Deal". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 6, 2018. Retrieved 2019-06-03.