CBS Corp.

Posted on October 16, 2016 by mnreardo

CBS Corporation

By: Marlowe Reardon, Justin Rivera, and Francesca Sostar

[2] CBS Corporations Logo

Overview

Columbia Broadcasting System, known as CBS Corporation, was founded in 1927 as competition to the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). CBS began as a major contributor in the radio business, then moved into television as that transition of medium was occurring [1].

Divisions of the Company

CBS Corporation branches out to all sorts of media, including radio, television, film, cable, as well as interactive media. The company owns a wide variety of operations such as its own television distribution, consumer products, television studios, home entertainment, and sports networks. CBS also has joint ventures with major companies such as Lionsgate and Warner Bros. Entertainment. Their deal with Warner Bros. allowed them to create the CW, a television network that has produced successful shows such as “Arrow” and “The Vampire Diaries” [3]. The partnership between Lionsgate and CBS led the the development of “Pop”, which combines both major companies talents in programming, production, and distribution.

[13] “Pop” Logo, CBS and Lionsgate joint venture

[14] The CW logo, CBS and Warner Bros Entertainment joint venture

Key Executives

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 15: President & CEO of CBS Corp. Les Moonves attends CBS 2013 Upfront Presentation at The Tent at Lincoln Center on May 15, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)

[4] Leslie Moonves, CEO, Chairman of the Board, and President

[6] Shari E. Redstone, Vice Chairman

[7] Jim Lanzone, Chief Digital Officer

[8] Armando Nuñez, President & CEO-CBS Global Distribution Group

[5] Sumner Redstone, Chairman Emeritus

Finances

CBS is a publicly traded company in the New York Stock Exchange, listed as CBS.A and CBS. Their stock has seen a steady increase over the past year, currently sitting at $60 per share, as opposed to $50 per share a year ago [9]. CBS had a successful third quarter this year, with revenues increasing 4 percent to $3.4 billion. Revenue is up from $3.26 billion at the same time last year. This was due to an increase in revenues and fees from CBS affiliate stations and a growth in their digital distribution platforms. There was also a negative impact in advertising revenue from the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, the first Presidential debate, and the 2016 Summer Olympics [10].

[11] CBS NYSE Closing Bell, 12/9/15.

Some of the largest contributors to CBS’s success are its cable networks, such as Showtime Networks and CBS Sports Network. Their revenue increased 14% to $598 million in this third quarter, growing from $526 million in last year’s third quarter. This aspect of the company will continue to prosper, with the growth in over-the-top (OTT) streaming services across media [12].

Current Projects

Right now, CBS Corporation is attempting to close a deal in which Viacom will merge with CBS. Both Sumner and Shari Redstone, Chairman and Vice Chairman of CBS, are large supporters of the deal. However, what is halting the deal is both companies board of directors have obligations to their shareholders. These shareholders are still exploring the potential problems that could happen if the deal were to be made. Some of these issues include pricing and structure after the merger is made. Even though the deal is still in talks, it is likely that it will happen because a single family, the Redstone’s, own 80 percent of both companies [13].

With the emergence of AT&T’s aggressively priced DirectTV Now (merging internet and television like never before), CBS is left to wonder one question: Why? A deal of this magnitude essentially leaves CBS yearning to somehow affiliate itself with this mega-deal. CBS has already taken the initiative to converge with other prosperous companies, inking a small deal with Google that involves a “skinny bundle” of TV networks to be called YouTube Unplugged. The drive CBS has to concern itself with as many large companies as possible depicts its drive to remain a powerful media conglomerate [14].

[15] Youtube Logo

CBS has been in the preproduction process of a new Star Trek series titled Star Trek: Discovery. This series will only be available on CBS’s online streaming service CBS All Access, after premiering on CBS. The decision to stream the show was made because science fiction shows have historically done poorly on broadcast television. CBS believes that a majority of Star Trek fans will pay for the services of CBS All Access so they will not miss out on the new series. Star Trek: Discovery is said to have a diverse and better represented cast, with a female lead and at least one gay character [16]. The company is hoping that this new series will also bring more viewers to this service, with about 1 million subscribers already. A commercial-free option of CBS All Access is now available, which costs $9.99 a month, as opposed to the ad-supported service costing $5.99 a month [17].

[19] CBS All Access Logo

[18] Star Trek: Discovery Logo

CBS is starting to take similar approaches to that of Netflix. Leslie Moonves stated that he is a big fan of Netflix and is taking some strategies that will help with CBS All Access. Rather than just displaying old shows on All Access, CBS has decided to take the same approach as Netflix by creating its own original shows. They use this strategy in order for their viewers to keep interest in All Access and not cancel their memberships. Previously, there would only be two or three buyers to get content from CBS. Now, streaming services are benefitting CBS Corporation because they can sell their syndicated content to Netflix, as opposed to these two or three buyers.

There has also been continuing success with CBS’s subsidiary, Showtime. Showtime is another over-the-top streaming site, similar to All Access. Moonves is going to make a continual amount of original programming, aiming for once a month released series or seasons. He also wants there to be an increase from about one million to four million subscribers in the next few years [20].

CBS has added six new shows this fall season to their primetime lineup, three comedies and three dramas. The three comedies are Kevin Can Wait, Man With a Plan, and The Great Indoors. These shows have big-name stars, such as Kevin James, Matt LeBlanc, and Joel McHale. The new dramas, Bull, MacGyver, and Pure Genius attract a wide range of audiences due to the differences of the casts. These shows are doing well so far, but time will tell which ones remain on the network and which will not make the cut [21].

mv5bmjiyndgyndy4nl5bml5banbnxkftztgwmdg4ndqwmdi-_v1_ux182_cr00182268_al_

[22] Kevin Can Wait poster

mv5bmtgxmdm0ndaxml5bml5banbnxkftztgwmda5ndqwmdi-_v1_ux182_cr00182268_al_

[23] Pure Genius poster

Future Endeavors

It was announced November 28th that CBS CEO and Chairman Leslie Moonves will be attending the UBS 44th Annual Global Media and Communications Conference in New York City on December 5th for a question-and-answer session [24]. This is a conference where companies join to meet and host formal presentations over a three day period [25].

Two new shows are set to premiere later in the 2016-2017 season on CBS. Training Day and Doubt are both dramas that revolve around crime and the legal system. This will hopefully help the ratings of the other dramas already showing on CBS [26]. The future of CBS Corporation looks very bright, and many changes are set for the upcoming months and years.

SOURCES

[1] https://www.britannica.com/topic/CBS-Corporation,. (2016). CBS Corporation. Retrieved 24 November 2016.

[2] http://logok.org/cbs-logo/,. (2016). CBS Logo. Retrieved 25 November 2016.

[3] https://www.cbscorporation.com/about-cbs/,. (2016). About CBS Corporation. Retrieved 25 November 2016.

[4] http://cdn5.thr.com/sites,. (2016). Leslie Moonves. Retrieved 25 November 2016.

[5] http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/4f4f62b1d3b58aebf110dff9a65dfa9cb9aa49b4/c=0-171-1994-2830&r=537&c=0-0-534-712/local/-/media/2015/04/16/USATODAY/USATODAY/635647883968561121-Sumner-Redstone.jpg,. (2016). Sumner Redstone Picture. Retrieved 25 November 2016

[6] http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Shari+E.+Redstone,. (2016). Shari E. Redstone Photo Stream. Retrieved 25 November 2016.

[7] http://www.cbscorporation.com/2016/06/jim-lanzone-named-chief-digital-officer-of-cbs-corporation/,. (2016). Jim Lanzone named Chief Digital Officer of CBS Corporation. Retrieved 25 November 2016.

[8] https://www.cbspressexpress.com/cbs-studios-international/executives/view?id=241,. (2016). Armando Nunez. Executives. Retrieved 25 November 2016.

[9] https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/CBS?p=CBS,. (2016). CBS Corporation Finances. Retrieved 26 November 2016.

[10] http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9MzU3MzQyfENoaWxkSUQ9LTF8VHlwZT0z&t=1&cb=63613799985568029,. (2016). CBS Annual Results. Retrieved 26 November 2016.

[11] http://www.gettyimages.com/event/the-talk-rings-the-closing-bell-at-the-new-york-stock-exchange-595510127?#sheryl-underwood-sara-gilbert-shahttps://youtu.be/bqm9HSYbf0oron-osbourne-aisha-tyler-and-julie-picture-id500711866,. (2016). CBS’ “The Talk” Rings The Closing Bell At The New York Stock Exchange. Retrieved 26 November 2016.

[12] http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9MzU3MzQyfENoaWxkSUQ9LTF8VHlwZT0z&t=1&cb=636137999855680291,. (2016). CBS Annual Results. Retrieved 26 November 2016.

[13] http://www.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/111716/heres-whats-holding-viacomcbs-merger-cbs-viab.aspx,. (2016). Here’s What’s Holding Up the Viacom-CBS Merger. Retrieved 26 November 2016.

[14] http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/cbs-directv-now-launch-att-1201925053/,. (2016). CBS Won’t Be in DirecTV Now at Launch, but Talks With AT&T Continue. Retrieved 25 November 2016.

[15] https://www.youtube.com/yt/brand/downloads.html,. (2016). Youtube Logo. Retrieved 26 November 2016.

[16] http://www.avclub.com/article/cbs-admits-star-trek-discovery-wouldnt-cut-it-netw-245919,. (2016). CBS admits Star Trek: Discovery wouldn’t cut it on broadcast TV. Retrieved 26 November 2016.

[17] http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/star-trek-discovery-good-wife-spinoff-cbs-all-access-premiere-date-1201860613/,. (2016). ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Delayed on CBS All Access Until May, ‘Good Wife’ Spinoff Moved Up. Retrieved 26 November 2016.https://youtu.be/bqm9HSYbf0o

[18] http://www.cheatsheet.com/,. (2016). Star Trek: Discovery Logo. Retrieved 27 November 2016.

[19] https://wwwimage-secure.cbsstatic.com,. (2016). CBS All Access Logo. Retrieved 27 November 2016.

[20] http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/10/01/why-cbs-corporation-is-a-big-fan-of-netflix.aspx,. (2016). Why CBS Corporation Is a Big Fan of Netflix. Retrieved 27 November 2016.

[21] http://www.cbs.com/shows/cbs-fall-premieres-2016/news/1005234/get-a-first-look-at-the-2016-2017-cbs-primetime-lineup/,. (2016). Get a first look at the 2016 2017 cbs primetime line up. Retrieved 28 November 2016.

[22] https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjIyNDgyNDY4Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMDg4NDQwMDI@._V1_UX182_CR0,0,182,268_AL_.jpg,. (2016). Kevin Can’t Wait Poster. Retrieved 28 November 2016.

[23] https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTgxMDM0NDAxMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMDA5NDQwMDI@._V1_UX182_CR0,0,182,268_AL_.jpg,. (2016). Pure Genius Poster. Retrieved 28 November 2016.

[24] http://www.cbscorporation.com/2016/11/cbs-corporation-chairman-and-chief-executive-officer-leslie-moonves-to-participate-in-the-ubs-44th-annual-global-media-and-communications-conference/,. (2016). CBS Corporation and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves to Participate in the 44th Annual UBS Global Media and Communications Conference. Retriever 28 November 2016.

[25] https://www.ubs.com/global/en/investment-bank/key-investor-conferences/global.html,. (2016). Global 2016 Conferences. Retrieved 28 November 2016.

[26] http://www.cbs.com/shows/cbs-fall-premieres-2016/news/1005234/get-a-first-look-at-the-2016-2017-cbs-primetime-lineup/,. (2016). CBS Fall Lineup. Retrieved 28 November 2016.

Paramount Pictures- Julia Dorin

Posted on February 18, 2016 by smwarren

Paramount Pictures

5555 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA. 90038

www.paramount.com

HOW IT ALL STARTED

Paramount Pictures, founded in 1912 by Adolph Zukor, is the fifth oldest film studio on Earth. Along with Zukor, Paramount’s founding fathers include Jesse L. Lasky ad Cecil B. DeMille, whose innovation and determination have created an empire. Since its conception in 1912, Paramount has become one of the foremost production and distribution companies in the entertainment industry [1]. Owned by media conglomerate Viacom, Paramount maintains a solid reputation and has branched into various divisions including Paramount Animation, MTV Films, Comedy Central Films, Nickelodeon Movies and many others. Paramount has had multiple successful releases in 2016 so far and anxiously awaits the release of various new projects.

THE TEAM

Led by Chairman and Chief Executive Brad Grey, Paramount Pictures develops and produces iconic pictures such as “The Big Short”, ”The Wolf of Wall Street”, “Star Trek”, and many more. Grey took over the company in 2005, leading it to great success by finishing first in the global market in 2011, and maintaining high morale and a good reputation throughout his tenure. However as of late, Grey has faced financial trouble as the leader of Paramount, showing a substantial decrease in operating profit from last fiscal year’s $205 million to this fiscal year’s $111 million [2]. Another revered executive, Rob Moore, serves as the Vice Chairman for Paramount Pictures. Moore works to oversee the company’s Worldwide Marketing and distribution of films and television programs. Other executives include Frederick Huntsberry, Marc Evans, and Amy Powell, all who contribute to Paramount’s long-lasting success [3].

Brad Grey- CEO of Paramount Pictures [12]

FINANCES

So far this year, Paramount Pictures has acquired a total film gross of $311,567,245 from a variety of films. “Daddy’s Home” grossed a total of $150,357,137 since its release in December of 2015. “The Big Short”, also released in December of 2015 grossed $70,259,870 as well as receiving the Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay. The film was also nominated for another four Oscars and four Golden Globe awards as well. Paramount also released “Anomalisa”, which was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film in the 2016 Academy Awards. Other releases such as “Zoolander 2” and “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” have contributed to Paramount’s total film gross thus far [4]. Paramount is known for some of the most grandiose pictures ever produced, such as James Cameron’s 1996 Blockbuster “Titanic”, which was awarded the Oscar for Best Picture during the year of its release. Other top notch production includes “Interstellar”, starring Matthew McConaughey, which won an Academy Award for Best Achievement in Visual Effects during the 2015 Oscars.

[9]

[10]

THE FUTURE

Looking ahead, Viacom is searching for a minority investor in Paramount in order to expand its content through the help of another company. Philippe Dauman, Viacom’s Chief Executive, believes a new investor would aid in Paramount’s recently dropping stock price and decreased ratings, which is depicted by the 2015 market share of 5.9%. Ideally, Paramount is looking for a Chinese investor to expand the company’s horizons and broaden its foreign influence. With the strict censorship implemented by China’s government, a Chinese partner would be extremely helpful for Paramount’s future success due to China’s massive population being about twenty percent of the total world population. Other interested parties include high profile companies such as Amazon, Apple, and Lionsgate Entertainment who have expressed the desire to get involved with Viacom’s Paramount Pictures. However, there is some controversy surrounding a new investor due to Paramount’s decrease in net worth. Viacom paid $9.8 billions dollars to acquire Paramount in 1994, yet current predictions value the company at only $5.5 billion today [5]. 21^st Century Fox has demonstrated great interest in buying a portion of Paramount, which could be a smart business move and allow the company to begin paying off some of their debt [6].

GLOBAL EXPANSION

[11]

Paramount recently gained rights to continue sharing their content to European countries after a long investigation with the European Union. The EU charged many companies including Google with anti-trust violations, claiming that streaming services such as Sky, which were carrying Paramount programs, were unfairly inaccessible to those outside of certain territories in the European Union. After much debate, Viacom and Paramount Pictures have reached a peaceful and satisfactory conclusion with the EU, allowing the production company to continue to license their programs through premium pay-TV output license agreements. This agreement also abolishes the prospect of fines as well as establishing a basis to solve other disagreements between various entertainment companies and the European Union [7]. Symbiosis between the EU and Paramount Pictures aids the company in reaching global success and distributing their programs and films across the world.

COMING UP

As one of the most iconic companies in the industry, Paramount has produced classic films such as “The Godfather”, and with numerous new releases on the horizon, they continue to hope for more success at the box office. Anticipated releases include “Star Trek Beyond”, “Ben-Hur”, and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows”, all of which Paramount has great hope for [8]. Huge blockbusters are essential not only to increase the company’s market share price and total gross but to maintain their outstanding reputation as well. Films such as “Star Trek Beyond” bode well for Paramount, due to the franchise’s already established consumer base, making the film a much anticipated release in the coming year.

Although Paramount Pictures has seen better days fiscally, the company still holds its head high and continues to produce and distribute projects that change the way audiences view cinema. With the implementation of a new investor combined with the already established leadership of Brad Grey and his team, Paramount will certainly make a comeback in the industry. With the increase of foreign cooperation, Paramount executives have high hopes that their company to extend beyond country borders, making their films renowned around the world.

SOURCES

[1] Paramount.com. (2016). The Paramount Story. Retrieved 25 April 2016.

[2] Atkinson, C. (2016). Paramount’s Brad Grey Needs Big Success to Save his Job. New York Post. Retrieved 25 April 2016.

[3] Paramount.com (2016). Paramount Executives. Retrieved 25 April 2016.

[4] Boxofficemojo.com. (2016). Paramount Yearly Comparisons. Retrieved 25 April 2016.

[5] Bond, P. (2016). Paramount’s Suitors? Here’s Seven Top Prospects. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 April 2016.

[6] Atkinson, C. (2016). 21st Century Fox Eyes Minority Slice of Paramount Pictures. New York Post. Retrieved 25 April 2016.

[7] Jafaar, A. (2016). Paramount Offers Concessions in EU Anti-trust Investigation. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 25 April 2016.

[8] Boxofficemojo.com. (2016). Paramount Upcoming Releases. Retrieved 25 April 2016.

[9] Paramount.com. (2015). Daddy’s Home Image. Retrieved 25 April 2016.

[10] Wikipedia. (2015). Anomalisa Poster. Retrieved 25 April 2016.

[11] Trekcore. (2015). Star Trek and Beyond Poster. Retrieved 25 April 2016.

[12] Paramount.com. (2015). Brad Grey Executive Biography. Retrieved 25 April 2016.

Lionsgate Entertainment

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Caroline Friedman

Lionsgate Entertainment

2700 Colorado Avenue, Suite 5000
Santa Monica, California 90404

http://www.lionsgate.com/

Key Executives

Jon Feltheimer, Chief Executive Officer | Source: Lionsgate

Michael Burns, Vice Chairman | Source: Lionsgate

Brian Goldsmith, Co-Chief Operating Officer | Source: Lionsgate.com

Steve Beeks, Co-Chief Operating Officer and Co-President, Motion Picture Group | Source: Lionsgate.com

Wayne Levin, General Council and Chief Strategic Officer | Source: Lionsgate

James W. Barge, Chief Financial Officer | Source: Lionsgate

History

Lionsgate Entertainment has taken the entertainment world by storm by becoming the first major new Hollywood studio in 50 years. The Canadian-American company was founded in Vancouver, British Columbia, on July 3, 1997, and is now headquartered in Santa Monica, California. The brainchild of Frank Giustra and Avi Federgreen, Lionsgate began its rise to the top by producing independent films like “American Psycho” and “Juno” that received critical recognition. [1]

Academy Award Winner Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen in "The Hunger Games"

Academy Award Winner Jennifer Lawrence in “The Hunger Games” | Source: imdb

After the company’s acquisition of Summit Entertainment, Lionsgate took off as a leading producer of blockbuster films such as “The Hunger Games” series and the “Divergent” series. Lionsgate’s motion picture business has grossed an average of $2 billion at the worldwide box office for the past three years, joining the “Big 6” film companies at the top of the market. [2]

In addition to becoming one of Hollywood’s top film studios, Lionsgate also possesses its own successful television group. Lionsgate’s television business has become a leading supplier of premium scripted content to broadcast, cable and digital networks. [2]

Source: amc.com

Lionsgate takes credit for some of television’s highest rated and most iconic series, including “Orange is the New Black”, “Mad Men”, and “Weeds”. Their television portfolio is now home to 30 television series spanning across 20 different networks, with over 30 primetime Emmy nominations to cement the company’s presence as a leading player in the entertainment world. [3]

Finances

Lionsgate is celebrating a successful year after having moved up a spot to be ranked sixth among all studios for the market share of the film industry. [4] While there has been a decrease in their stock price over the last three months, from $25.40 to $20.33, the company’s stock is rising again. Screen Shot 2016-04-25 at 8.23.37 PM

The company has seen a lucrative year with their box office total gross coming to $195.9 billion dollars. This success is largely due in part to the high-grossing “Hunger Games” franchise which ended its blockbuster run this past fall. [5]

Source: EW.com

Their television business has also seen impressive growth, with its revenue increasing by 30% to $580 million . [6] The company anticipates further increase in their television revenue after shows such as “Orange is the New Black” and “Nashville” were picked up for new seasons.

Right Here, Right Now

While Lionsgate has experienced great success from its distribution of film franchises such as “The Hunger Games”, “The Twilight Series”, and The “Divergent” Series, the company has noticed a change in the way these types of franchises are being received. Lionsgate was relying on the newest installment of The “Divergent” Series, “Allegiant“, to take the box office by storm. However, “Allegiant” grossed a mere $29 million dollars its opening weekend in the domestic box office, marking the lowest opening for the film franchise to date. [7] To date, the film has made $64,403,316 at the domestic box office which compares to the over $130 million produced individually by the franchise’s first two films.

This disappointing reception to “Allegiant” comes on the heels of another upsetting opening for the company. “Gods of Egypt”, starring Russell Crowe, has been deemed the “first big bomb” of 2016 after its February 26th release. [8] The movie only produced $30 million dollars at the domestic box office after a large marketing campaign within the United States. [9]

Source: movieweb.com

The film struggled to gain viewership after it was accused of being culturally insensitive. “Gods of Egypt” was accused by audiences and critics of “whitewashing” after all the actors cast to portray Africans were white. The lack of diversity and representation in the film stirred controversy and protests which ultimately hurt its success at the box office.[10] However, Lionsgate took full responsibility for its mistake and issued a statement saying “We recognize that it is our responsibility to help ensure that casting decisions reflect the diversity and culture of the time periods portrayed. In this instance we failed to live up to our own standards of sensitivity and diversity, for which we sincerely apologize. Lionsgate is deeply committed to making films that reflect the diversity of our audiences. We have, can and will continue to do better.” [11] While Lionsgate received backlash for their casting mishap, they have received praise after moving the shooting of their Hulu series “Crushed” from North Carolina to Canada after the state’s controversial passing of a new anti-LGBT law. [12]

The Future

After the failure of both “Gods of Egypt” and “Allegiant”, Lionsgate has been exploring new content to fill the void created by the end of “The Hunger Games”. For years, Lionsgate relied on the teen fantasy series to serve as their highest grossing films. However, the clear loss of enthusiasm for the “Divergent” series has made it evident to the company that it needs a new approach to making blockbuster films. Lionsgate’s current lineup for future movies includes projects such as a “Power Rangers” reboot, a retelling of “The Odyssey”, and film adaptations of the “Magic Treehouse” book series to restore its luster. [13] [14]

While Lionsgate has had its fair share of ups and downs this past year, they are more confident then ever that their brand will resurge with a newer and stronger vibrancy. The company is anticipating a strong opening on June 10, 2016 for their latest film, “Now You See Me 2“, a sequel to the highly successful “Now You See Me“. The film includes a cast of leads such as Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Lizzy Caplan, and Dave Franco, all of whom possess loyal fanbases. [15]

The film also features a highly anticipated cameo from “Harry Potter” actor Daniel Radcliffe which has kept message boards buzzing for the last few months. Lionsgate is not only confident that the film will have a positive reception, but the company is also dipping into the mobile gaming world by creating a “Now You See Me 2” game. [16]

Lionsgate also has plans to launch Comic-Con HQ, a video-on-demand platform, on May 7, 2016. Comic-Con HQ will consist of scripted and unscripted series, film and TV genre titles, and behind the scene access and special features for their content. The network will focus on drawing in video game and comic book lovers by tailoring the channel’s content to focus on all the elements of Comic Con that fans love. Lionsgate will be launching the channel with free beta access in May before officially launching with paid subscriptions in June of 2016. [17]

Lionsgate has proven to the entertainment world that they are a force to be reckoned with. A true underdog story, Lionsgate has risen from small independent production company to a leader in the film and television industries. With innovative ideas and content pouring out of the company, 2016 is sure to be a monumental year for Lionsgate Entertainment.

Sources

[1] “LIONSGATE Key Lines of Business.” Corporate. Lionsgate, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. https://www.lionsgate.com/corporate/

[2] “Lionsgate Movies.” Movies. Lionsgate, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2016 https://www.lionsgate.com/movies/

[3]”Lionsgate Television.” Television. Lionsgate, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. https://www.lionsgate.com/tv/

[4] “2016 Market Share and Box Office Results by Movie Studio.” Box Office Mojo. Box Office Mojo, 1 Jan. 2016. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/studio/

[5] France, Lisa Respers. “How ‘Hunger Games’ Changed Hollywood.” CNN. Cable News Network, 19 Nov. 2015. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/19/entertainment/hunger-games-mockingjay-part-2-hollywood-feat/

[6] Fiscal Year 2015 Financial Report. Retrieved November 29, 2015.://www.lionsgate.com/uploads/assets/2015%20Annual%20Report.pdf

[7] “The Divergent Series: Allegiant (2016) – Box Office Mojo.” Box Office Mojo. Box Office Mojo, 22 Apr. 2016. Web. 23 Apr. 2016 http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=allegiant.htm

[8] Orange, Alan. “Gods of Egypt Is First Big Bomb of 2016.” MovieWeb. N.p., 27 Feb. 2016. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. http://movieweb.com/gods-of-egypt-box-office-bomb-2016/://movieweb.com/gods-of-egypt-box-office-bomb-2016/

[9] “Gods of Egypt (2016) – Box Office Mojo.” Box Office Mojo. Box Office Mojo, 22 Apr. 2016. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=godsofegypt.htm

[10] Lee, Benjamin. “Gods of Egypt Posters Spark Anger with ‘whitewashed’ Cast.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 13 Nov. 2015. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/nov/13/gods-of-egypt-posters-anger-whitewashed-cast-twitter-exodus

[11] Mendelson, Scott. “Lionsgate Responds To ‘Gods Of Egypt’ Whitewashing Controversy.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 27 Nov. 2015. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2015/11/27/exclusive-lionsgate-responds-to-gods-of-egypt-whitewashing-controversy/#6892d8b31f4e

[12] Vlessing, Etan, and Gregg Kilday. “Lionsgate Pulls Hulu Pilot ‘Crushed’ From North Carolina After Anti-Gay Bill.” The Hollywood Reporter. The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Apr. 2016. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lionsgate-pulls-hulu-pilot-crushed-881405

[13] Lang, Brent. “Box Office: ‘Allegiant’ Opening Falling Short of Other ‘Divergent’ Films.” Variety. Variety Entertainment, 15 Mar. 2016. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. http://variety.com/2016/film/box-office/box-office-allegiant-divergent-1201730485/

[14] “Lionsgate Acquires Rights to Globally-Renowned Magic Tree House Book Series.” Childrens Book Council. Childrens Book Council, 21 Apr. 2016. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. http://www.cbcbooks.org/lionsgate-acquires-rights-to-globally-renowned-magic-tree-house-book-series/#.Vxu8yZMrJo5

[15] “‘Now You See Me 2’ Trailer: The Four Horsemen Return With Their Magical Escapades.” The Hollywood Reporter. The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Mar. 2016. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/now-you-see-me-2-trailer-daniel-radcliffe-876192

[16] Vlessing, Etan. “Lionsgate Plans ‘Now You See Me’ Mobile Games.” The Hollywood Reporter. The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2016. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lionsgate-plans-you-see-me-873278

[17] McNary, Dave. “Lionsgate to Launch Comic-Con Channel in May.” Variety. Variety Entertainment, 14 Mar. 2016. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. http://variety.com/2016/film/news/lionsgate-comic-con-channel-1201728963/

[18] “The Hunger Games.” IMDB.com. IMDB, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. http://www.the-numbers.com/market/distributor/Lionsgate

[19] Gallagher, Brian. “5 Gods of Egypt Character Posters Introduce the Cast.”MovieWeb. N.p., 12 Nov. 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. http://movieweb.com/gods-egypt-movie-posters-characters-gerard-butler/

[20] “LIONSGATE Governance.” Corporate. Lionsgate Entertainment, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. https://www.lionsgate.com/corporate/governance/management/james-w-barge/

[21] Shaw, Ashley. “Get an Inside Look at Mad Men’s Final Season Poster Designed by Milton Glaser.” AMC. AMC, 15 Mar. 2014. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. http://www.amc.com/shows/mad-men/talk/2014/03/amc-reveals-mad-mens-final-season-poster-designed-by-60s-icon-milton-glaser

[22] Rice, Lynette. “‘Nashville’ Fall Poster Released.” Entertainment Weekly’s EW.com. Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sept. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. http://www.ew.com/article/2013/09/05/nashville-fall-poster-released

[23] “Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.” Yahoo! Finance. Yahoo!, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=LGF

[24] “About the Series.” Magic Tree House. Random House, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. http://www.magictreehouse.com/

[25] “Power Rangers: Official Website | Videos, Games & Toys | Saban.” Power Rangers The Official Power Rangers Website. Saban Brands, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. http://www.powerrangers.com/

Copy & paste citation

CBS Films

Posted on February 18, 2016 by smwarren

By Brooke Katz

[1] CBS Films Logo

Corporate Headquarters

11800 Wilshire Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90025

History

CBS Films was founded in March of 2007, which was convenient timing due to all the changes that were occurring for film businesses. The reconstruction of studios such as MiraMax Films along with the failure of others including Warner Independent Pictures promoted a speedy launch for CBS Films due to their lack of competition. However, their first few releases did not produce very promising results. In 2012, new executives took over and CBS was able to finally be considered mini-major studio. With their 2013 academy award nominated release Inside Llewyn Davis producing a total gross of $13,235,319, the company was headed for an upward trend [2]. They aim to release four to six movies a year and are in charge of handling development, financing, production, and marketing processes [3].

Key Executives

Terry Press- President

Steven Friedlander- Executive Vice President of Theatrical Distribution

Reid Sullivan- Chief Financial Officer

Rik Toulon- Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Scott Shooman- Executive Vice President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions

Click here for more information about key executives

Financials

CBS Films is a significant source of revenue for their parent company CBS Corporation. Based on the 2015 quarterly earnings, CBS’s entertainment revenues grew 9% in a year from $2.26 billion to $2.46 billion [4]. Their entertainment segment in comparison to the other divisions which include cable networks, publishing, local broadcasting, and eliminations is easily the number one source of income. However, being that there are multiple aspects under the entertainment segment the specific contributions of CBS’s Films are unclear.

In 2014, the company released 3 films that all brought undesirable results for the box office. Although the company got off to a rough start in 2007, these films brought CBS Films to an all time low. Afflicted, a 2014 horror film, brought in a total gross of just $121,179, which is the company’s worst outcome out of their 17 total releases [5]. Nonetheless, these results were definitely not what was expected based on the company’s history. Their 2013 comedy hit Last Vegas generated a total gross of $63,914,167, which is still a groundbreaking record for the company.

CBS Films Rankings

Although 2014 was an ineffective year for CBS Films, they demonstrated a steady comeback in 2015. The company carefully dealt with the prior issues by only releasing 2 films last year instead of the usual 4 to 6 [6]. It can be inferred that their new strategy is quality over quantity. In particular, they are not going to finance a movie that they deem will be unsuccessful.

News

In 2014, it was announced that CBS Films and Lionsgate would be forming a partnership together in which Lionsgate would take over the company’s distribution functions. This became active with CBS’s 2015 release The Duff and will continue for many years to come. The executives shared their enthusiasm for working with one and other and emphasized their strong relationship. Not only is Lionsgate in charge of CBS Films distribution functions, but they now also control exclusive international sales for the company’s releases. Terry Press, president of CBS Films, is confident in Lionsgate’s ability to successfully distribute their films across the many different forms in media [7].

Recent Releases

Get a Job

Just last month, on March 25th 2016, CBS Films released their new movie Get A Job. This comedy tells the story about two recent college graduates who struggle to find jobs and make it in the real world. They go through many adventures together in order to realize that things happen when you least expect them. Unfortunately, this movie turned out to be a huge failure. With a 5% rating on Rotten Romatoes, 5.2/10 on IMDb, and 2/5 on The Guardian it is obvious that very little revenue was generated. Although the information about this movie’s financial outcome is not yet available, the ratings tell enough. It is clear that the majority of audiences felt the same way after seeing this film. Many people found the overall concept of this movie to be tacky and unrealistic. According to critics, acting performances were not problem here. Instead, the main criticism was actually about the weak dialogue in each scene [8].

Get A Job

Flight 7500

On April 12th 2016, CBS released another movie called Flight 7500. This is a horror and mystery film about a supernatural force that flight members must deal with on their way to Tokyo. While Flight 7500 has only been out for a total of just two weekends, it is difficult to evaluate the success of this film. Thus far, the total gross is $2,871,035, which is not a very promising result [9]. Although it will be in theaters for a few more weeks, critics are saying that this film was almost comical. While comedic value would normally be a positive aspect, this is not the reaction that the filmmakers were going for. They hoped that this would scare audiences, not make them laugh. Overall, many audiences are saying that this movie was unmemorable and confusing [10].

Flight 7500

Coming Soon

Middle School

CBS Films is currently working on a film called Middle School. The release date is October 7th, 2016. Steve Carr is in charge of directing this film which is based on Jame Patterson’s bestselling Middle School book series. Middle School tells the compelling story of a teenage boy who deals with various obstacles that most are faced with at this age. It displays the value of friendship and presents real-life such as bullying. With this series selling seven million copies worldwide, many audiences are looking forward to seeing Middle School come to life. This will also be a challenge for Steve Carr because of the high expectations that audiences will have when going into the theater [11].

Future for CBS Films

The future of CBS Films is headed in the right direction. CBS Films have received lots of positive press after announcing their upcoming film Patriots Day. This film is supposed to be extremely touching and powerful as it tells the story about the Boston Marathon bombings. In order to make this happen, Mark Wahlberg and CBS Films have purchased the rights to the film Boston Strong, another film about the bombings which was distributed by 20th Century Fox. Essentially, CBS Films did this so that they could combine the storyline of these two movies [12]. Additionally, CBS Films is planning to do a project with its sibling division 60 Minutes who will handle production and advertising processes for the film. Patriots Day will benefit from this partnership as producers will learn about the research done for the memorable 60 Minutes segment that aired after the bombings [13].

Sources

[1] CBS Films Logo. CBS Films, Retrieved. April 21st 2016

[2] Inside Llewyn Davis. Box Office Mojo, Retrieved. April 23rd 2016

[3] CBS Films- About. CBS Films, Retrieved. April 21st 2016

CBS Films Explained. Everything Explained, Retrieved. April 23rd 2016

[4] Q4 2015 CBS Corporation Earnings Release. CBS Corporation. Retrieved: April 23rd 2016

[5] CBS Films. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved: April 23rd 2016

[6] Film Library. CBS Films. Retrieved: April 23rd 2016

[7] Deadline Team (November 13, 2014) Lionsgate Takes Over CBS Films’ Distribution & Global Sales. Deadline Hollywood Entertainment Breaking News. Retrieved: April 24th 2016

Get A Job. IMDb. Retrieved: April 23rd 2016

Get A Job. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved: April 23rd 2016

Get A Job Review. The Guardian. Retrieved: April 23rd 2016

[8] Frosch, Jon (March 21st 2016) ‘Get a Job’: Film Review. Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved: April 24th 2016

Get A Job Cover. CBS Films. Retrieved: April 24th 2016

Flight 7500. IMDb. Retrieved: April 24th 2016

[9] Flight 7500. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved: April 24th 2016

[10] Mintzer, Jordan (October 27th 2014) ‘7500’: Film Review. Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved: April 24th 2016

Middle School. CBS Films. Retrieved: April 24th 2016

[11] Ford, Rebecca (August 4th 2015) CBS Films Enrolls in ‘Middle School’ Based on James Patterson Book Series. Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved: April 24th 2016

Middle School Trailer. Youtube. Retrieved: April 24th 2016

[12] Juul, Matt (November 16th 2015) Mark Wahlberg’s Patriot’s Day Combining with Boston Strong. Boston Magazine. Retrieved: April 24th 2016

[13] Hipes, Patrick (February 25th 2016) J.K. Simmons Joins Boston Marathon Bombing Pic ‘Patriots Day’. Deadline Hollywood Entertainment Breaking News. Retrieved: April 24th 2016

Lionsgate Entertainment #1

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Lilly Stuecklen

Lilly Stuecklen

Lions Gate Entertainment

2700 Colorado Ave Ste 200

Santa Monica, CA 90404

http://www.lionsgate.com/

Corporate Management

John Feltheimer, Chief Executive Officer | Source: Lionsgate

Michael Burns, Vice Chairman | Source: Lionsgate

Steve Beeks, Co-Chief Operating Officer and Co-President, Motion Picture Group | Source: Lionsgate

Brian Goldsmith, Co-Chief Operating Officer | Source: Lionsgate

Wayne Levin, General Counsel and Chief Strategic Officer | Source: Lionsgate

James W. Barge, Chief Financial Officer | Source: Lionsgate

Company Overview

MV5BMjA4NDg3NzYxMF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTgyNzkyNw@@._V1_SX640_SY720_

The Hunger Games | Source: IMDb

While the “Big 6” film studios have reigned for decades at the top of the box office, one “mini major” is quickly working its way into their usual territory, Lionsgate Films. Formed in 1997, Lionsgate stayed mostly under the radar as a producer of independent and niche films such as “American Psycho” and Tyler Perry’s “Madea” films until 2012. This was the year of Lionsgate, where it released “The Hunger Games” and acquired Summit Entertainment, the studio behind the “Twilight” franchise. Since 2012, Lionsgate has mingled at the top of the studio market share with the Big 6, being the youngest and smallest studio (550 employees vs. Warner’s 10,000), to gross over $1 billion in a year. [1]

Orange is the New Black | Source: IMDb

In addition to being Hollywood’s youngest film powerhouse, Lionsgate also operates its own television group. Its shows, such as “Orange is the New Black”, “The Royals”, and “Nashville”, currently dominate the digital, cable, and broadcast platforms. Their television library now contains 30 shows spanning 20 different networks that have brought in nearly 30 Primetime Emmy wins for this on-the-rise company. [5]

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW

Financially, Lionsgate’s television and film units continue to grow exponentially. Their production revenue from TV increased to $580 million, up 30% from 2014. Television revenue is only expected to increase as all current shows in production have already been renewed for new seasons, and one, “Nashville”, has just been sold into syndication whilst still in production. [7]

Lionsgate owns the rights to these lucrative book-to-screen franchises. From left to right: Twilight, Divergent, The Hunger Games | Source: hypable

So far in 2015, Lionsgate ranks 7th among all studios for the market share of the film industry, and has stayed within the top seven for the past 3 years [3]. This steady success comes mainly thanks to their film franchises, which include the “Hunger Games”, “Twilight”, and “Divergent” series. Together they’ve raked in over $10 billion at the global box office, and this number continues to rise as the final “Hunger Games” installment turns into its third week in theatres. [7]

While still a blockbuster, the final installment of the series “Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” performed under expectations for its opening weekend. The $101 million opening fell roughly $19 million short of expectations, and is the lowest of the four-film series [8]. In response to this, shares have dropped from a three-month high of $42.50 to $34.25 [6]. Despite the slight under-performance, “Mockingjay – Part 2” still held on to first-place for a second week through the Thanksgiving weekend, beating out “The Good Dinosaur” and “Creed” on their opening weekends. [9]

File photo of Liberty Media chairman John Malone talking to reporters as he arrives at the Sun Valley Inn

John Malone has taken significant interest in Lionsgate lately | Source: The New York Post

Lionsgate, however, is confident that a slight dip in shares will not affect them in the long term. Media mogul and billionaire John Malone recently upped his ante in the studio, becoming its second largest shareholder. With this purchase comes the buzz that Malone’s company, Liberty Media (in charge of the Starz channel), may potentially attempt a merger with Lionsgate down the line. As the end of the breadwinning The Hunger Games film series draws near, the studio has been putting more eggs in the television basket than the film one, and Malone wants to capitalize on this. At the beginning of November, Lionsgate dropped $200 million for a controlling stake in Pilgrim Studios, a producer of several successful reality TV shows including “Ghost Hunters“. With this purchase and the potential to shift Lionsgate’s in-house produced shows to Starz, the likelihood that Malone is at Lionsgate to stay is high. [10]

Potential rendering of a Lionsgate/Hunger Games theme park | Source: New York Times

While the initial Hunger Games series may be coming to an end, Lionsgate is looking forward to an extremely long tail for the franchise. Spin-offs films, a theatrical experience, and theme parks are all potential new ways to keep the world of Panem alive and churning out profit. Following in the successful footsteps of Warner Bros., who licenses its characters to existing parks and developers instead of running their own (like Disney and Universal do), Lionsgate has plans for parks in Georgia and China. Meanwhile, a Lionsgate-themed area is already under construction at Motiongate, a soon-to-open park in Dubai that also has the rights to DreamWorks and Sony titles. In addition to utilizing the Hunger Games brand for “location-based entertainment”, “Step Up” dance shows and “Divergent” and “Now You See Me” attractions are in talks as well, all a part of the Lionsgate library. [11]

Gerard Butler as an Egyptian God in “Gods of Egypt” | Source: IMDb

While the long tail of The Hunger Games will continue to profit Lionsgate for years to come, their primary income is in their theatrical film releases. “Gods of Egypt“, planned for a February 26 release, is a fantasy epic concerning the lore of ancient Egypt. Recently though, the film has gotten a backlash of negative press due to a predominantly white casting. Posters released this month featuring lead actors such as Gerard Butler and Geoffrey Rush drew anger from celebrities and consumers alike, claiming it was both wrong and in bad taste, especially among all the recent racial unrest, to cast a film taking place in Egypt with mostly Caucasian people. Both Lionsgate and the director of the film, Alex Proyas, issued apologies immediately. [13]

Aside from the rough patch concerning “Gods of Egypt”, Lionsgate is as optimistic as ever in their endeavors. Approximately 12 films are slated for a 2016 release, including “The Divergent Series: Allegiant” and “Now You See Me 2” [12]. The Divergent series, based on a series of dystopian young adult novels and also featuring a strong female lead similar to “The Hunger Games”, hasn’t been the monstrous success that its predecessor has (the second film had a $130.2 million domestic box office gross vs. the second Hunger Game’s $424.7 million). Yet still, the series is Lionsgate’s lone remaining sure-fire breadwinner once “Mockingjay – Part 2” runs its course in theatres. [14]

In the case of “Now You See Me” in 2013, the original film had no built-in book audience to profit off of, and was a surprise hit for the studio, grossing $117 million domestically against a budget of $75 million. A sequel was immediately greenlit and “Now You See Me 2” is due to be released next summer. “Harry Potter” star Daniel Radcliffe has joined the cast, and his starpower combined with the returning Jesse Eisenberg, Dave Franco, and Woody Harrelson is expected to bring in promising receipts. [15]

Lionsgate is a true underdog. Where much of its competition is celebrating centennials, Lionsgate isn’t even old enough to have a drink at the bar. 2015 was a monumental year as their television properties escalated and their signature Hunger Games series came to an end. 2016 is promising and the Lionsgate name is sure to grace the headlines several times in the coming year.

Sources

[1]

Hollywood Has A New Star Studio With A Different Approach to the Film Business. Retrieved November 29, 2015. http://www.businessinsider.com/lionsgate-fighting-the-system-2014-1

[2]

Company Website. Retrieved November 29, 2015.http://www.lionsgate.com/

[3]

Lionsgate Film’s Yearly Box Office Standing. Retrieved November 29, 2015. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/studio/?view=company&view2=yearly&yr=2015&p=.htm

[4]

Film’s Gross Ranking. Retrieved November 29, 2015. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/studio/chart/?view2=ytd&view=company&studio=lions_gate.htm

[5]

Lionsgate Television Website. Retrieved November 29, 2015.https://www.lionsgate.com/tv/

[6]

Company Financial Profile. Retrieved November 29, 2015.://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/lgf

[7]

Fiscal Year 2015 Financial Report. Retrieved November 29, 2015. ://www.lionsgate.com/uploads/assets/2015%20Annual%20Report.pdf

[8]

Lang, Brett. Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 Box Office Predictions Lowered. Retrieved November 29, 2015.://variety.com/2015/film/news/hunger-games-mockingjay-part-2-box-office-predictions-lowered-1201646692/

[9]

Bahr, Lindsey. Hunger Games Beats Good Dinosaur. Retrieved November 29, 2015.http://finance.yahoo.com/news/hunger-games-beats-good-dinosaur-174719447.html

[10]

Lang, Brett. As Hunger Games Ends, John Malone and Lionsgate Grow Closer. Retrieved November 29, 2015. http://variety.com/2015/film/news/hunger-games-lionsgate-john-malone-1201643503/

[11]

Barnes, Brooks. Lionsgate Seeks to Build on Its Library of Film Properties With Theme Parks. Retrieved November 30, 2015. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/02/business/media/lionsgate-seeks-to-build-on-its-library-of-film-properties-with-theme-parks.html?_r=0

[12]

Lionsgate Upcoming Releases. Retrieved November 30, 2015. http://www.the-numbers.com/market/distributor/Lionsgate

Lionsgate Entertainment

Posted on October 5, 2014 by masicili

by Maggie Sicliano

[1] Lionsgate Entertainment Logo

History

Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation was founded by Frank Giustra on July 3, 1997 as a Canadian-American entertainment company, and is based in Santa Monica, California. Currently headed up by Jon Feltheimer, Lionsgate is constantly changing. It plays on its exposure from 2012 when it acquired Summit Entertainment and launched “The Hunger Games” franchise. Recently, it has become an international player due to a 13-year strategy to create a foundation for growth. It also continues to enhance its television presence. [2]

Key Executives

[3] Chief Executive Officer: Jon Feltheimer

[4] Vice Chairman: Michael Burns

Contact Information

Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.
2700 Colorado Avenue
Suite 5000
Santa Monica, CA 90404

P: 310-449-9200
F: 310-255-3870
W: http://www.lionsgate.com [5]

Financials

Lions Gate Entertainment Corp has a net income growth of +4015.05%, a revenue of 552.88 M, a revenue growth of +10.86%, and an Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization of +33.12% M (September 2014). In the past five years the overall revenue has increased 13.22%, but the net income as gone down 176.11%. [6] In the box office Lionsgate is currently ranked #7 with a 5.9% market share, and a total gross of $543.3 million from the 18 movies tracked in 2014. [7]

In Theatres

“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1”

[8] “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1” is the first part of third movie in The Hunger Games’ series that follows a young Katniss Everdeen after she destroys the games and finds herself in District 13.

The series, based on the books of the same name by Suzanne Collins, starring Jennifer Lawrence, was surprisingly the lowest-grossing movie of the series franchise thus far, but was the front runner of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. After the five day break, “Mockingjay” turned out as the third highest five day grosser just behind its second movie, “Catching Fire“, and child phenomenon, “Frozen“. [9] The film is once again directed by “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” visionary Francis Lawrence. [8]

“John Wick”

[10] “John Wick” follows an ex-hitman on his quest for revenge.

The suspected flop starring Keanu Reeves in yet another action film was a pleasant surprise in its opening weekend. Coming in at #2 [11], the action flick wasn’t on the same level as other Lionsgate thrillers such as “The Expendables 3″ and “3 Days to Kill“, but it did well for its audience (skewed male) as well as had a decent showing, 18% gross, in IMAX. [12]

Awards and Accolades

This September it was announced that CEO Jon Feltheimer will receive the Producers Guild of America‘s Milestone Award for 2015. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the success of the entertainment industry. His leadership positions range from positions at New World Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and now, Lionsgate Entertainment. Since being named CEO in 2000, Feltheimer has had a myriad of achievements under his belt. In the past he was behind the Oscar winners “Crash“ and “Precious“, and more currently “The Hunger Games” franchise and the start of the “Divergent“ series’ franchise. [13]

[14] The thriller follows a man lost at sea and his struggle for survival.

The most recent award winner for Lionsgate was J.C. Chandor‘s “All Is Lost” starring Robert Redford with the 2014 Golden Globe for Best Original Score for a Motion Picture. As the upcoming award season gears up, the award nominations have yet to be released. [14]

Coming Soon

“Spare Parts”

“Spare” Parts [16] Poster

“Spare Parts” Trailer [15]

Sean McNamara directs the true life story about a robotics team formed by Hispanic high school students, under their new teacher Fredi (George Lopez). The experience of building a product with next to no money, no experience, but a lot of heart, will bring them closer together and give them lessons that will last longer than just the competition run. Set to release on January 16, 2015, it will play to the family and child demographic, and is a sure heart-warmer. [16]

“Insurgent”

“Insurgent” [18] Poster

“Insurgent” Teaser Trailer [17]

With new director Robert Schwentke, Shailene Woodley stars in the “Hunger Games“–esque thriller, that follows fugitives Tris (Woodley) and Four (Theo James). They are racing to find help against the overambitious Erudite elite. [18] The movie will be released in 2D, Real 3D, and Digital 3D on March 20th, 2015.”The second film in the “Divergent” franchise takes the story and action to another level and, by partnering with RealD, we were able to blend gripping performances and mind-blowing spectacle to create a unique event on screen,” said producers Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher. [19] “Insurgent” will draw on the the Veronica Roth books series by the same name’s fan base, a young adult demographic, and fans of the first “Divergent” movie.

“Mortdecai”

“Mortdecai” [21] Poster

“Mortdecai” Trailer [20]

Art dealer aficionado Charlie Mortdecai, Johnny Depp, juggles a host of contenders as he tries to recover a stolen painting in hopes that it leads to Nazi gold. Joined by big names Gwyneth Paltrow and Olivia Munn, director David Koepp takes Mortdecai out of his element and across the pond for a mystery of Depp-proportions on January 23, 2015. [21]

“The Age of Adaline”

“The Age of Adaline” [23] Poster

“The Age of Adaline” Trailer [22]

Blake Lively plays Adaline Bowman, the mysterious and solitary woman who has miraculously remained 29 years old for eight decades. After keeping to herself for so long, she is revitalized through the chance meeting of Ellis Jones, played by Michiel Huisman. Shaped by director Lee Toland Krieger, the film also stars Harrison Ford and Ellen Burstyn, and is set to be released on April 23, 2015. [23]

Game Changers for Lionsgate Entertainnment

Middle of November, Lionsgate and CBS Films announced a multi-year film distribution partnership that unites the companies on up to 12 wide release films, beginning with the release of 2015’s “The Duff“. The agreement holds CBS Films responsible for the production and marketing efforts of films, whereas Lionsgate will oversee more of the distribution side on multiple platforms: theatrical, home entertainment, etc. “The Duff” withholding, Lionsgate also receives exclusive international sales for all titles. [24] Lionsgate has also announced that it will be making “The Expendables 3” workout videos in collaboration with Scott Herman Fitness to celebrate the digital HD release of “The Expendables 3 Unrated Edition” on November 11, 2014. [25] Lionsgate is also using the American Film Market to launch its name in and among the independent films’ world. It features a range of films from “La La Land“, starring big names such as Emma Watson and Miles Teller, to the story of the oil drilling catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico, “Deepwater Horizon“, due out in 2015 and September 30, 2016, respectively. [26]

The Future of Lionsgate Entertainment

This past October, Lionsgate announced that both it and Tribeca Enterprises will be launching their own online streaming service beginning the first half of 2015. The online video service will make the studios’ movies and ones from outside studios available to viewers. They plan to draw on many of their industry contacts.“We are pleased to join with Lionsgate . . . to create a highly curated experience that disrupts the ‘more-is-more’ model in today’s streaming on-demand landscape,” said Jane Rosenthal, chief executive of Tribeca Enterprises. “Tribeca Short List aims to be a service where you can see films you never got to watch, forgot to watch, and want to watch.” Details such as films available and pricing have yet to be released. [27] Based in New York, the service will be overseen by members of both studios as well as an advisory board of knowledgable frontrunners in the American entertainment industry. [28] It was also just announced that Dalian Wanda Group, the Chinese conglomerate, wants to own a controlling stake in Lionsgate to expand its rapidly growing film industry. Lionsgate has yet to comment on their publicized interest. [29]

Sources

[1] Lionsgate Entertainment Logo, www.thehungergames.net, RT: 11/25/14

[2] Lionsgate Company, www.lionsgate.com, RT: 11/5/14

[3] Key Executive: Jon Feltheimer, www.lionsgate.com, RT: 11/26/14

[4] Key Executive: Michael Burns, www.lionsgate.com, RT: 11/26/14

[5] Lions Gate Entertainment Corp, http://finance.yahoo.com, RT: 11/5/14

[6] Lions Gate Entertainment Corp, www.wsj.com, RT: 11/5/14

[7] Box Office by Studio, www.boxofficemojo.com, RT 11/30/14

[8] LIONSGATE MOVIES Mockingjay Part 1, www.lionsgate.com, RT: 11/5/14

[9] Mockingjay Part 1 Remains Champ, www.ign.com. 11/30/14. RT: 11/30/14

[10] LIONSGATE MOVIES John Wick, www.lionsgate.com. RT: 11/30/14

[11] John Wick, www.boxofficemojo.com. RT: 11/29/14

[12] Weekend Report, www.boxofficemojo.com, Subers, Ray. 10/26/14. RT: 11/29/14

[13] Jon Feltheimer to Receive Producers Guild’s 2015 Milestone Award, deadline.com, 9/9/14. RT: 9/14/14

[14] All Is Lost, www.lionsgate.com. RT:11/29/14

[15] Spare Parts Trailer, www.youtube.com, 11/6/14. RT: 11/30/14

[16] Lionsgate Movies: Spare Parts, www.lionsgate.com. RT: 11/30/14

[17] Divergent Teaser Trailer, www.youtube.com, 11/12/14. RT: 11/30/14

[18] The Divergent Series: Insurgent, www.lionsgate.com, RT: 11/30/14.

[19] The Divergent Series: Insurgent to be Released in 3D, www.lionsgate.com, RT: 11/5/14

[20] Mortdecai Trailer, www.youtube.com, 11/12/14. RT: 11/30/14

[21] Johnny Depp Is A British Rogue in America, www.deadline.com, The Deadline Time. 11/12/14. RT: 11/30/14.

[22] The Age of Adaline Trailer, www.youtube.com, 11/19/14. RT: 11/30/14

[23] The Age of Adaline, www.lionsgate.com, RT: 11/30/14

[24] CBS Films and Lionsgate Announce Multi-Year Film Distribution Partnership, www.lionsgate.com, 11/13/14, RT: 11/19/14

[25] The Expendables Workout, www.lionsgate.com, 11/11/14, RT: 11/19/14

[26] Lionsgate Aims for the Fences at American Film Market, variety.com, RT: 11/5/14

[27] Lionsgate and Tribeca film studios are launching a new streaming service, www.washingtonpost.com, Kang, Cecilia. 10/20/14. RT: 11/5/14

[28] Tribeca Short List, www.lionsgate.com. RT: 11/30/14

[29] Dalian Wanda Group’s Interest, www.variety.com, Lang, Brett. 12/1/14. RT: 12/1/14

Lionsgate Entertainment

Posted on October 5, 2014 by htfergus

by Naomi Pinkus

Lionsgate Company Logo [1]

Contact Information:

Address: 2700 Colorado Ave Ste 200
Santa Monica, CA, 90404 United States

Phone Number: (310) 449-9200

Website: http://www.lionsgate.com

About Lionsgate:

Lionsgate Entertainment was founded in 1997 by financier Frank Giestra. In 2000 Giestra stepped down as CEO, and the current CEO, John Feltheimer, took charge along with the current Vice Chairman Michael Burns [2]. For a while, Lionsgate was seen as a small studio known for their Tyler Perry comedies and horror flicks such as Saw [3]. Then, in 2012, The Hunger Games came to theaters, and become one of the most successful film franchises in history. Since then, Lionsgate bought Summit Entertainment (Twilight series) and has been speeding up to the major film studios in record time [3]. This particular wiki will focus on Lionsgate’s motion picture production line of business, as it is also involved in television programming, home entertainment, distribution, and new channel platforms [2].

Key Executives:

John Feltheimer, Chief Executive Officer [4]

Michael Burns, Vice Chairman [5]

Since starting in 2000, Feltheimer and Burns have grown Lionsgate from an $80 million company to a nearly $4 billion one today. Lionsgate’s revenue has increased more than 15 times over [4].

Financials:

Lionsgate reported as of September 30th (when the quester ended) their revenue has increased by 11% to $552.9 million. They also had an adjusted EBITDA of $59.0 million. They also had an adjusted net income of $33.0 million or $0.24 adjusted basic net income per share. Additionally, they had a net income of $20.8 million or $0.15 basic net income per share, which is up from $0.00 basic net income per share last quarter [6].

Big Releases:

Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1:

In this portion of the story, Katniss is in District 13 as the face of the rebellion, while trying to save Peeta from the Capitol [8].

The third movie in the Hunger Game’s franchise which made over $1.5 billion in the box office before this new release [7]. The Hunger Games is by far Lionsgate’s most well-known and lucrative project. This third film came out November 21st, and has spent its two weeks of release being number one in the box office [9]. With a budget of $125 million, it has already made $225 million in the domestic market and $480 in the international market [9]. This franchise is also responsible for the Jennifer Lawrence’s rise to one of the top A-List stars in Hollywood.

John Wick is the story of an ex-hitman who comes out of retirement to hunt the gangsters who took everything from him [10].

John Wick:

With the reintroduction of Keanu Reeves, John Wick did surprisingly well as number 2 in the box office opening weekend. With a budget of $20 billion, Lionsgate gained $42 million domestically and $17 million internationally [11].

Smaller Film Releases:

Addicted is a thriller that encompasses a story about a gallerist engaging in an affair, which jeopardizes her family and career [12].

Jessabelle is the story of a girl who returns to her hometown after a car crash, where she’s met with a dark spirit who won’t let her go [14].

Addicted came out on October 10, 2014 and made $17 million. It was in approximately 1,000 theaters for only about 7 weeks [13].

Jessabelle is a horror film that came out on November 7th, 2014. As of now, there is no information on the budget, earnings, or number of theaters of this film [15].

Dear White People is a story about four black people struggling with race at a university [16].

MV5BMTQ4NTkxOTEyMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwOTI1NzcwMzE@-1._V1_SY317_CR0,0,214,317_AL_

The Homesman is the story of a man and woman who must transport 3 insane women across the country [18].

Dear White People was released on October 17th and has made about $4 million domestically (it was not released in the international market) [17].

The Homesman came out on November 21st. The film had an estimated budget of $16 millions and has only made $200,000 in the box office thus far [19].

Upcoming Releases:

Mortdecai:

Starring Johnny Depp, Gwenyth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor, and Olivia Munn, Mortdecai is sure to be a success. It is set to be released on January 23rd. The story is an action-comedy who’s premise is an art dealer is given a job to hunt down an art thief and faces an adventure across the world [20]. CEO Feltheimer compares this film to The Pink Panther and considers Depp’s character very “franchisable” [21]. The movie’s release was moved from early February so as to reduce the competition: now it is pinned up against Jennifer Lopez’s thriller The Boy Next Door [22].

Insurgent:

Perhaps the biggest grossing project next to The Hunger Games is the Divergent franchise. Insurgent, the second film of the trilogy, sets to be released to theaters on March 20th [23]. Divergent, the first film, made about $288 million worldwide last spring [24]. This film is estimated to be even more successful because the lead, Shailene Woodley, has escalated in fame since Divergent’s release through the film Fault in Our Stars [25]. Also interesting is the fact that Lionsgate has released a trailer that is a dream of the lead Tris (Woodley)- which has been commented on by news outlets as a risky way to promote the film, especially since they leave out the romance element of the film [25]. Insurgent will also be released in 3D.

The Age of Adeline:

Starring Blake Lively, The Age of Adeline tells a story about a woman who cannot age. It is set to be released on April 24th [26]. This is the first big movie Lively will lead in, so it’s a potentially big opportunity to draw fans in [27].

Spare Parts:

Spare parts is the story of four under-privledged hispanic boys starting a robotics club. It is set to hit theaters on January 16th and is starring George Lopez and Jamie Lee Curtis [28]. This film was a move by Lionsgate to reach out to and widen their Hispanic market. The Hispanic market is the fastest growing demographic in America, comprising 19% of U.S. box office revenue while representing 17.5% of the population [29].

Current Business Ventures:

Lionsgate has been extremely busy in the last few months expanding their company. The way they are doing this is by partnering up with many major companies to add projects to their plate and widen their distribution for the films they already had.

On September 3rd, Lionsgate announced that joined with Entertainment One, they would be renewing their multi-year film agreement in Canada, Australia, and Spain. This renewal will continue to distribute their major movies across the world, giving their company more recognition and money [30].

The last few months have been heavily focused on advertising and marketing The Hunger Games. On October 8th, Lionsgate partnered with Doritos, Mazda, and Whole Food’s, all of which sponsored a new app called “Our Leader, the Mockingjay” [31]. On October 20th, Lionsgate sent out a press release with the partnership between them and Google, where they created a five episode YouTube series about characters in Panem (the setting of The Hunger Games) [32]. Then on November 7th it was announced that Lionsgate would be partnering with Imagine Nations to produce The Hunger Games as a theater production in the UK [33].

As of November 13th, Lionsgate has partnered with CBS Films on up to 12 wide-release films. In this agreement CBS finds and produces the films while Lionsgate deals with distribution. This will allow each company to benefit from each other’s strengths [34].

There are many other examples of Lionsgate using any film success they’ve had to branch out into new media channels. It seems as though they are going to continue moving full speed ahead on their business ventures.

Sources:

[1] Lionsgate Company Logo, Deadline.com, RT 2/5/13

[2] Lionsgate Company Overview, lionsgate.com, RT 12/1/14

[3] Lionsgate Fighting the System, businessinsider.com, RT 1/24/14

[4] CEO Jon Feltheimer, Lionsgate.com, RT 8/17/13

[5] Vice Chairman Michael Burns, Lionsgate.com, RT 8/17/13

[6] Financial Report, lionsgate.com, RT 11/30/14

[7] Google and Lionsgate Team Up, lionsgate.com, RT 10/20/14

[8] Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, Imbd.com, RT 11/21/14

[9] Hunger Hames: Mockingjay Part 1, boxofficemojo.com, RT 11/30/14

[10] John Wick, imbd.com, RT 11/30/14

[11] John Wick, boxofficemojo.com, RT 11/30/14

[12] Addicted, imbd.com, RT 11/30/14

[13] Addicted, boxofficemojo.com, RT 11/30/14

[14] Jessabelle, imdb.com, RT 11/7/2014

[15] Jessabelle, boxofficemojo.com, RT 11/30/2014

[16] Dear White People, imdb.com, RT 11/30/14

[17] Dear White People, boxofficemojo.com, RT 11/30/14

[18] The Homesman, imdb.com, RT 11/30/14

[19] The Homesman, boxofficemojo.com, RT 11/30/14

[20] Mortdecai, lionsgate.com, RT 11/30/14

[21] Johnny Depp’s New Franchise, thewrap.com, RT 11/30/14

[22] Mortdecai to Hit Theaters Early, hollywoodreporter.com, RT 11/30/14

[23] Insurgent, lionsgate.com, RT 11/30/14

[24] Divergent, boxofficemojo.com, RT 11/30/14

[25] Insurgent Trailer, forbes.com, RT 11/30/14

[26] Age of Adeline, lionsgate.com, RT 11/30/14

[27] Blake Lively, usatoday.com, RT 11/30/14

[28] Spare Parts, lionsgate.com, RT 11/30/14

[29] George Lopez, variety.com, RT 11/30/14

[30] Entertainment One, lionsgate.com, RT 9/3/14

[31] Our Leader, The Mockingjay, lionsgate.com, RT 10/8/14

[32] Google, lionsgate.com, RT 10/20/14

[33] Theater Production, lionsgate.com, RT 11/7/14

[34] CBS Films, lionsgate.com, RT 11/13/14

Lionsgate Entertainment

Posted on November 16, 2013 by Andrea Reindl

: Photo courtesy of: [1] www.hollywoodreporter.com

website: http://www.lionsgate.com/

Company Headquarters: 2700 Colorado Ave., Ste. 200
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Brief History:

: Photo courtesy of: [3] theatlatlanticwire.com

Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation was formed on July 3, 1997 in Vancouver, British Columbia by Frank Giustra, a former investment banker. After its initial formation, it began a series of acquisitions of minor film studios in order to establish itself in the film industry. On January 13, 2012, Lionsgate announced that it had purchased Summit Entertainment, the producers and distributors of The Twilight Saga for $412.5 million [4]. This merger had been planned for 4 years. As of now, LGE is responsible for the distribution of the major franchises of The Hunger Games, Twilight, and more recently, Ender’s Game.

: Photo courtesy of: [5] www.thehungergamesexplorer.com/us/

Key Executives:

: Photo courtesy of: [2] lionsgate.com

Jon Feltheimer: Feltheimer has been the Chief Executive Officer of Lionsgate since March 2000. Before he joined Lionsgate, Feltheimer spent nine years at Sony Pictures Entertainment as head of the Columbia TriStar Television Group as well as heading Sony Entertainment Television.

: Photo Courtesy of [2] lionsgate.com

Michael Burns: Burns has been on the Lionsgate Board of Directors since 1999. In March of 2000, Burns became Vice Chairman of Lionsgate. Before joining the Lionsgate team, Burns had a background in investment banking.

Photo courtesy of [2] lionsgate.com

Steve Beeks: Beeks responsibilities include corporate and administrative matters. Under Beek’s strategic direction, 2012 has been the film division’s best year ever, earning over $1.2 billion domestically and over $2.5 billion internationally [26]

Quick Financials:

During its Second Quarter, Lionsgate reported a net income of $25.4 million. Revenue of the second quarter declined by 29% in comparison to the prior year’s corresponding quarter, most likely because of the timing of The Hunger Games home entertainment release [6].

Recent Past:

In the past six months, Lionsgate has become a favorite of Wall Street investors due to sleeper-hit films like Now You See Me and Instructions Not Included [7].

: Photo courtesy of: [8] magazine.topman.com

Now You See Me, a film directed by Louis Leterrier and starring Jesse Eisenberg, Morgan Freeman, and Isla Fisher centers around a group of magicians who use illusions and slights of hand to pull off a bank robbery. The film was a surprise hit, earning $117,723,989 at the domestic box office and $234,000,000 internationally totaling to a $351,723,989 worldwide gross with a $75 million budget [8]. Critics’ reviews were mixed. Recently, a sequel for Now You See Me was confirmed [9].

: Photo courtesy of: [10] imdb.com

Instructions Not Included is a film co-written, directed by, and starring Eugenio Derbez that shattered box office records by being the highest-grossing Spanish-language film released in the U.S. of all time [11]. As of now, it has domestically grossed $44,239,362, with a worldwide gross of $85,317,913. Considering its estimated budget is $5 million, the profit for Lions Gate with this release has well-exceeded its expectations [12]. The success of Instructions Not Included has been attributed to Derbez’s star power in Mexico; he stars in a telenova as well as a variety show [13].

: Photo Courtesy of: [14] atomicsam.com

Ender’s Game, a sci-fi fantasy film based off of the popular young-adult novel by Orson Scott Card, however, failed to become the big box office draw that Lions Gate and its subsidiary, Summit Entertainment, had hoped. The film centered on a young protagonist named Ender Wiggin who is recruited by the military to attend a military academy in outer space to be trained to defend against a genocidal alien race that previously almost annihilated the human race. Controversy surrounded this movie due to the beliefs of the author of the novel, who is vocally against gay rights as well as a member of the Church of Latter-Day Saints [15]. The film grossed $53,593,921 domestically and $9,137,000 internationally, and grossed a total of $62,730,921. Its budget was $110 million [16].

: Photo courtesy of: [25] thehollywoodreporter.com

In other news not directly related to their film releases, James Keegan, who was Lions Gate’s Chief Financial Officer, retired on October 1st. Keegan was with the company for 25 years. However, Keegan will remain a consultant until January 3, 2014 to assist in the transition. Keegan was succeeded by James W. Barge, Viacom’s previous Chief Financial Officer since 2010 [17].

Next for Lions Gate:

Lionsgate has multiple projects in the works at the moment, with most of their content skewing to the younger-demographic that they seem to draw in so well.

Photo Courtesy of: [27] latino-review.com

The most-anticipated event on the near horizon is the release of T he Hunger Games: Catching Fire, sequel to the 2012 film The Hunger Games. Set to release on November 22, 2013, it is already conservatively estimated that the movie will earn between $140 and $150 million at the box office [18]. If this were to happen, it would break records, becoming the highest-grossing November release (the previous title-holder being The Twilight Saga: New Moon, with $142 million [19]).

On a conference call on November 8th regarding the studio’s quarterly earnings, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer stated that the studio was exploring the possibility of getting into the theme park business. The hypothetical theme park would be based around the blockbuster “Hunger Games” franchise. The studio has already been approached about the possibility of a theme park in two territories. No further details were given [20].

Photo courtesy of: [29] buzzsugar.com

Another highly anticipated film that Lions Gate is involved in that is also based off a successful young adult book series is Divergent, a sci-fi film directed by Neil Burger and starring Shailene Woodley. Divergent is set in a futuristic, dystopic America where people are divided into five factions based on their personalities. The story follows Beatrice “Tris” Prior whose personality does not fit into any of the five categories. The film also stars Kate Winslet and Zoe Kravitz. As of now, the release date is March 21, 2014 [21].

: Photo courtesy of: [22] www.hypable.com

In addition to the release of the Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Lionsgate is also looking forward to the release of Hercules: The Legend Begins under its Summit label, directed by Renny Harlin, and starring Kellan Lutz. This movie will trace the origins of Hercules from when he is “betrayed by his king, sold into slavery and fighting for his freedom to return to his true love” [23]. Lions Gate moved the premiere date of Hercules: The Legend Begins up to January 10 so it will not have to directly compete with Paramount’s Hercules, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson [24].

Photo Courtesy of: [28] moviepilot.de

Sources:

[1] “Lionsgate Pacts with Codeblack CEO Jeff Clanagan”. Hollywood Reporter.
RT: 11/17/13

[2] Lionsgate Governance RT: 11/17/13

[3] “Lionsgate Near a Deal to Buy Summit, Studio Behind ‘Twilight’ Movies, for $700 Million”. The Wire. RT: 11/18/13

[4] “It’s Official: Lionsgate Has Acquired Summit Entertainment for $412.5 Million”. comingsoon.net. RT: 11/18/13

[5] The Hunger Games Explorer RT: 11/18/13

[6] Lionsgate Second Quarter Fiscal Report 2014 RT: 11/17/13

[7] “Lionsgate Stock Jumps on Success From Sleeper Hits”. Variety. RT: 11/18/13

[8] “The Hunger Games (2012)”. Box Office Mojo. RT: 11/18/13

[9] “Now You See Me Gets a Sequel”. Den of Geek! RT: 11/18/13

[10] “Instructions Not Included (2013)”. IMDB. RT: 11/18/13

[11] Lionsgate Second Quarter Fiscal Report 2014. RT: 11/18/13

[12] “Instructions Not Included (2013)”. Box Office Mojo. RT: 11/18/13

[13] “Hollywood Gets ‘Instructions’ From Latino Audiences”. Variety. RT: 11/18/13

[14] “Over Thinking: Is it OK To See Ender’s Game?”. atomicsam.com. RT: 11/19/13

[15] “Orson Scott Card’s anti-gay views haunt ‘Ender’s Game’ Premiere”. LA Times. RT: 11/19/13

[16] “Ender’s Game (2013)”. Box Office Mojo. RT: 11/18/13

[17] “Longtime Lionsgate CFO James Keegan to Retire”. The Hollywood Reporter. RT: 11/18/13

[18] “‘Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ on Track for Mega $150 Million-Plus Debut”. Variety. RT: 11/18/13

[19] “‘Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ on Track for Mega $150 Million-Plus Debut”. Variety. RT: 11/18/13

[20] “‘Hunger Games’ Theme Parks Could Be Coming”. Variety. RT: 11/18/13

[21] “‘Divergent’ Movie First Look!”. hypable.com. RT: 11/18/13

[22] “‘Divergent’ Movie First Look!”. hypable.com. RT: 11/18/13

[23] “‘Hercules’ Battle Starting Jan. 10 as Lionsgate Moves Epic Forward”. Variety. RT: 11/18/13

[24] “Hercules’ Battle Starting Jan. 10 as Lionsgate Moves Epic Forward”. Variety. RT: 11/18/13

[25] “Longtime Lionsgate CFO James Keegan to Retire”. The Hollywood Reporter. RT: 11/18/13

[26] Steve Beeks Profile. RT: 11/19/13

[27] “‘The Hunger Game: Catching Fire’ UK Poster”. latino-review.com. RT: 11/19/13

[28] “Erster Trailer für Hercules – The Legend Begins – Bild 2 von 2”. www.moviepilot.de. RT: 11/19/13

[29] “Watch All Our Interviews With the Divergent Cast”. buzzsugar.com. RT: 11/19/13

By Andrea Reindl

Lionsgate Entertainment

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Simon Staples-Vangel

By Simon Staples-Vangel

-Courtesy of Destructoid

BREIF HISTORY

Lionsgate Films is a film production and distribution company and is a division of the Lionsgate Entertainment Corporation. Originally known as Cinépix Film Properties, the name was changed to Lionsgate Films in 1998. The founder, Frank Guistra, stepped down two years later in 2000 and was replaced by Jon Feltheimer, formerly of Sony Pictures, who remains the Chief Executive Officer today. Lionsgate’s first film to be successful at the box office was American Psycho, in 2000. For a long time their biggest success was Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11, which was recently surpassed by the company’s lucrative franchise, The Hunger Games. [1] [2]

KEY EXECUTIVES

-Courtesy of Lionsgate

Jon Feltheimer — CEO

-Courtesy of Lionsgate

Michael Burns — Vice Chairman

-Courtesy of Lionsgate

Steve Beeks — Co-Chief Operating Officer – President, Motion Picture Group [4]

FINANCIALS

Lionsgate reported their 2013 (although actually fiscal 2014) second quarter revenue to be $498.7 million, with an adjusted net income of $25.4 million, a pure profit of $500,000 and $84.9 million in free cash flow. This is a drop from the previous year, as the same quarter in 2012 saw Lionsgate’s revenue hit $707 million. However, last year’s second quarter saw the release of The Hunger Games on DVD and Blu-ray Disc, as well as three wide feature film releases. This year saw only two wide film releases, as the next installment in the Hunger Games series, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is coming this November, and the rest of the films will follow that pattern for the next few years. Thus, many would say that Lionsgate’s 2013 second quarter earnings were actually better than expected. They were able to make a profit without their major releases and thus are in a position to be very successful during the third quarter and the holiday film season. [5] [6] [7]

RECENT FILMS

Instructions Not Included

-Courtesy of IMDB

Lionsgate released Instructions Not Included on August 30th, 2013. The film is a Spanish language film, directed and starred in by Mexican television and occasional film actor, Eugenio Derbez. It is a comedy/drama about a single dad whose life becomes complicated by the resurfacing of his daughter’s birth mother. It became the highest grossing Spanish language film ever released in the U.S. Made only for $5 million, the film grossed a total of over $85 million worldwide. The film made $44 million in the U.S. and $41 million internationally. It’s limited opening weekend, August 30th, grossed over $7 million, while it’s wide release on September 6th earned over $8 million. The film was able to stay on the box office charts for several weeks. Although critical reviews have been mixed, the film has clearly found success in Spanish language audiences, both in the U.S. and internationally, making it a big box office win for Lionsgate. [8] [9] [10] [11]

Ender’s Game

Courtesy of Collider

Ender’s Game, which was released by Lionsgate in the U.S. on November 1st, 2013. The film, based on the novel of the same name, is a science fiction and action film about a child who enrolls in a military school because he is widely believed to be the last chance for mankind to defend themselves from the inevitable alien invasion. The film stars well known child actor Asa Butterfield in the title role and the even more well known Harrison Ford as the lead support. The film was able to rake in $27 million domestically on opening weekend, however it quickly lost steam. Reviews have been mixed, with still many very positive, and while Ender’s Game has been able to gross a total over $63 million overall, it’s budget of $110 million means that it really lost quite a bit of money. Fortunately for Lionsgate, not all is lost, as the coming months will see the release of the company’s most lucrative franchise right in time for the holiday season… [12] [13] [14]

THE MAJOR UPCOMING RELEASE!

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

-Courtesy of Latino Review

Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, is the sequal to the previous The Hunger Games, released last year, and is also based on the acclaimed novel series. Due to be released on November 22nd, 2013, in the U.S., the film stars last year’s Academy Award winner for Best Actress (albeit not for The Hunger Games), Jennifer Lawrence, alongside the well known Chris Hemsworth, who previously had a small role in the Lionsgate film, The Expendables 2. The film is expecting to be very successful, with some estimating it to gross nearly $400 million worldwide. This would surpass the $325 million earned by the original and would put Lionsgate in position to be one of, if not the biggest winners, of the winter holiday film season. The film benefits from the existing audience from the original novel series, as well as the significant star power of the cast. This isn’t limited to Lawrence and Hemsworth, as Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, and Stanley Tucci, among others, help round out the cast.

-Courtesy of The Washington Post

Furthermore, Lionsgate’s effective marketing campaign for the film consists of the multifaceted website, The Hunger Games Explorer. The site combines many elements of marketing, including social media posts about the film, a reward based competition, traditional fan forums, and official releases such as new trailers or clips. The site can even be used to buy tickets to the film, as it links to ticketing websites such as Fandango. The all encompassing site is an effective design to engage fans of the film and novel series, and even to spark interests from those who are only casually interested. While Lionsgate has also gone for traditional ways of promoting the film, the website shows a forward-thinking marketing strategy, as it allows the company to group together all of its content and social media buzz in one place, while still allowing for traditional fan interactions in fan forums and discussion boards that science-fiction and action fans have typically been drawn to online. The site is the first result if you search “The Hunger Games” on multiple search engines, including Google. [15] [16] [17] [18]

OTHER FUTURE RELEASES

Obviously, The Hunger Games franchise isn’t over yet, as Lionsgate plans for each film to keep its annual November release date, up until The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 in 2015. Furthermore, Lionsgate has purchased the U.S. distribution rights for Hercules: The Legend Begins, which they plan to release in 2014 before and in competition with Paramount’s Hercules, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. A risky move, but it shows that the company has a plan beyond its annual Hunger Games releases and they are clearly continuing to make a profit, becoming arguably the most successful “mini-major” studio to date. [19] [20]

SOURCES

[1] — Lionsgate Corporate

[2] — Funding Universe: Lionsgate Company History

[3] — Forbes: The Smart Money Behind The Hunger Games

[4] — Lionsgate Corporate Management Page

[5] — Lionsgate Press Release

[6] — Hollywood Reporter: Lionsgate Quarterly Earnings

[7] — Deadline: Hunger Games DVD/Blu-ray Sales

[8] — Lionsgate Films: Instructions Not Included

[9] — Deadline: Instructions Not Included Box Office

[10] — IMDB: Instructions Not Included

[11] — Box Office Mojo: Instructions Not Included

[12] — Fool.com Box Office Weekend: THOR, Ender’s Game

[13] — Box Office Mojo: Ender’s Game

[14] — IMDB: Ender’s Game

[15] — IMDB: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

[16] — Digital Spy: Hunger Games: Catching Fire Predicted Gross

[17] — The Hunger Games Explorer Website

[18] — Digital Spy: Hunger Games Explorer

[19] — Variety: Lionsgate To Compete With Paramount’s Hercules

[20] — LA Times: Hunger Games Release Dates

Buenavista/Disney Pictures

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Gregory Fenton

By Greg Fenton

Photo courtesy of www.thewaltdisneycompany.com

History

Founded in 1923 under the name “The Disney Brothers Studio”,The Walt Disney Studios began as a humble cartoon studio, producing classics such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Fantasia, Mary Poppins, and The Lion King. Today, The Walt Disney Studios, also known as Disney/Buena Vista, has become one of the largest film companies in the world, churning out internationally successful live-action and animated films aimed at entertaining the whole family. The Walt Disney Studios umbrella encompasses several studios owned and operated by The Walt Disney Studios, including Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Touchstone Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios, Disneynature, and Marvel Studios. Disney also acquired Lucasfilm Ltd. in late 2012 for $4 billion. [1] [2] [3]

Key Executives

Robert A. Iger– Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company

Photo courtesy www.thewaltdisneycompany.com

Alan Horn– Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios

Photo courtesy of www.waltdisneystudios.com

Andy Bird– Chairman of Walt Disney International

Photo courtesy of www.thewaltdisneycompany.com

Alan Bergman– President of The Walt Disney Studios

Photo courtesy of www.waltdisneystudios.com

Financials

In 2013, The Walt Disney Company brought in $45.0 billion of revenue ($9.4 billion gross profit), up from $42.3 billion in 2012 ($8.9 billion gross profit) , and $38.0 billion in 2010 ($6.7 billion gross profit). As of this writing (11/18/2013), Disney stock sits at an even $70.00 per share, a significant increase from $47.45 a year ago (11/19/2013).[4] Through November 14th, 2013 Disney/Buena Vista commands 13.1% of the studio market share, trailing Warner Bros. (17.8%) and Universal (14.6%).[5] Disney/Buena Vista thrives on the blockbuster, with four films grossing over $100 million domestically in 2013 and 2012. Of these eight films, three of them are part of Marvel Studio’s “Avengers” franchise, which shows the enormous financial returns on Disney’s $4 billion investment to purchase Marvel Entertainment in 2009.[6] [7] In early November 2013, Disney/Buena Vista broke its all-time global box office record of $3.79 billion, set in 2010, with over six weeks and three major releases left to go in 2013, setting Disney/Buena Vista up for a year of eye-popping numbers. [17]

Recent Film Releases

Photo courtesy games.disney.com

Planes– DisneyToon Studios’ Planes follows a crop-dusting plane named Dusty Crophopper with big dreams of being a racer and a fear of heights. After training under veteran fighter, Skipper, Dusty qualifies for the prestigious Wings Across the World race. There, as an underdog, he meets friend and foe, but, more importantly, learns to break down his physical and mental barriers.[8]

As a DisneyToon production, Planes was initially meant for a straight-to-DVD release and cost Disney a relatively cheap $50 million to make, yet opened with a robust $22 million weekend opposite Sony’s Elysium in early August, eventually pulling in $89 million domestically in over 3,700 theaters. [9] [10] [6]

The film received a Metascore of just 32 from review-aggregator site Metacritic.com with some reviewers appreciating the modesty of the film, while others docked the film for lacking the quality of other animated Disney films and an overly simplistic plot. [11]

Photo courtesy www.imdb.com

Thor: The Dark World– Thor: The Dark World is a sequel to 2011’s Thor.That movie, distributed by Paramount as part of The Avengers franchise, raked in over $181 million at the domestic box office. Disney bought the distribution rights for Marvel’s the Avengers (2012) and Iron Man 3 (2013) in 2010 and finalized a deal for the distribution rights for Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger in summer 2013. [12] [13] [14]

Thor: The Dark World takes place two years after the events of Thor, focusing on Thor’s quest for peace in the nine realms of Asgard. Thor misses Earth and his love-interest Dr. Jane Foster, but is prevented from traveling back to her by Odin, Thor’s father. However, when Foster travels through a wormhole, uncovering an ancient weapon called Aether that threatens the fate of Asgard and Earth. Thor then decides to team up with Foster and his half-brother, and villain of the Thor and Marvel’s The Avengers films, Loki, to destroy the Aether and save Asgard from the wrath of the dark elf Malekith. [12]

At the time of this writing Thor:The Dark World has earned over $145 million at the domestic box office just two weekends after its November 8th release in over 3,800 theaters, and should recoup its $170 million budget in the very near future. The Dark World has also thrived overseas, pulling in just under $333 million worldwide. The real test will be to see how the film performs after Lionsgate releases The Hunger Games: Catching Fire on November 22nd which some believe will open with a $150 million weekend. Nevertheless, The Dark World is already a financial success for Disney and should continue to put up strong numbers at the box office for several weeks as the holiday movie-going season kicks off. Click here to watch the trailer for Thor:The Dark World [12] [15]

Upcoming Film Releases

Photo courtesy of wikia.disney.com

Frozen– Frozen is the latest effort from the wildly successful Walt Disney Animation Studios, opening the day before Thanksgiving on November 27th, 2013. Based on the fairy tale written by Danish Author Hans Christian Andersen, “The Snow Queen,” Frozen revolves around the story of two sisters, Anna and Elsa, the latter of which has the supernatural ability to control ice and snow. When Elsa accidentally uses these powers in public, she flees, plunging the kingdom into eternal winter. Determined to end the cold snap, Anna enlists the help of the mountain man Kristoff and the animated snow man Olaf. [16]

Opening up the day before Thanksgiving should give Frozen ample time to marinate in the holiday climate before more major titles are released before for Christmas. As with Thor:The Dark World, Frozen will have to compete with The Hunger Games: Catching Fire for attention, but the film keeps a significant advantage in its subject matter as a children’s musical adventure in the midst of several films that touch more serious topics. Frozen will also benefit from being released in 3D, which will provide a major boost to its numbers at the box office. On the other side of the spectrum of success, Frozen could garner some looks as the Academy Awards approach in a relatively weak year for animated movies that included a sequel (Despicable Me 2) and a prequel (Monsters University) as the highest earners at the box office in the animated category. [16]

Other Upcoming Releases

Delivery Man– November 22nd, 2013

Saving Mr. Banks– December 13th, 2013

The Wind Rises– February 14th, 2014 [17]

Sources:

[1] The History of Disney

[2] Studios Under the Walt Disney Studios Umbrella

[3] Disney Buys Lucasfilm LTD

[4] Disney Financial Profile

[5] Disney Market Share

[6] Buena Vista Box Office-2012

[7] Disney Buys Marvel