MTI partners with Timeless

Suppliers to co-release series of higher-profile films

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 7/25/2006

JULY 25 | Timeless Media and MTI Home Video through 2007 will co-release a series of films, including Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen’s Talking to Heaven.

The companies will pool funds in order to acquire DVD rights to higher-profile properties than each could secure individually. Timeless will oversee sell-through distribution channels, and MTI will handle distribution into rental accounts.

Two additional titles, Above and Beyond and Escape From Colditz, will street by early 2007. A total of six to 10 films should street through next year.

Talking to Heaven, which aired on CBS as Living With the Dead, chronicles the story of real-life medium James Van Praagh. Above and Beyond, starring Jason Priestley, follows England’s preparation for a German invasion during World War II. Also WWII-related, Colditz features Band of Brothers’ Damian Lewis. Street dates and pricing haven’t been determined for the first three titles.

Timeless executive VP of acquisitions John McHugh has been carrying over strategies he pushed while in a similar role at Platinum Disc. Last year, Platinum and MTI jointly began streeting eight action films from production company Nu Video. Also splitting responsibilities, MTI took the reins at rental, and Platinum focused on sell-through distribution.

Platinum became a subsidiary of Echo Bridge Entertainment in February 2005.

“I’ve known Larry [Brahms] for a long time,” McHugh said of the MTI president. “That original [Platinum Disc] deal worked very well for both parties. And if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”

McHugh hopes both Timeless and MTI will raise their retail stature with the caliber of upcoming titles.

“These will be bigger-budgeted and will have premiered on major TV channels,” McHugh said. “TV has become a really great platform for home video.”