Image signs on Discovery deal
UPDATE: Indie supplier will distribute TV programming
By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 10/4/2006
OCT. 4 | Looking to boost its value heading into an all-important shareholder’s vote next week, Image Entertainment has signed a three-year DVD output deal with Discovery Communications.
Under the pact’s terms, Image gains distribution rights to TV programming from a wide range of networks, including Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, Discovery HD Theater, Science Channel, Military Channel and Discovery Atlas.
Image will street on disc previously unreleased content and new programming from the Discovery stable.
Kicking off the agreement is the HD DVD, Blu-ray and standard DVD release of Discovery Atlas: China Revealed in December.
Image plans to release five to 10 Discovery titles in March. That monthly output pace should continue for the first 90 to 120 days from that point. On average, Image hopes to unspool four to six titles each month going forward, for a total of 60 titles at retail in 2007.
Pricing and exact dates are not yet available. Further details will be solidified by March, the company said.
Discovery is expected to be involved in selecting Image releases. Currently popular series from Discovery’s family of channels include Mythbusters, Deadliest Catch, Dirty Jobs and Anthony Bourdain Travel.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released Discovery channel discs in the past.
Locked in a fierce battle with Lionsgate to control its board of directors, Image has been busy touting its high-profile content deals to shareholders, including a theatrical DVD pact with Relativity Media.
On Oct. 10, shareholders will choose between re-electing Image’s current board and an opposing slate handpicked by Lionsgate. Image’s second-largest shareholder, Lionsgate has been loudly criticizing Image’s performance for the past several weeks.
Lionsgate has knocked Image for not revealing title specifics for its Relativity deal. Lionsgate could have the same argument with Discovery, as just one title is confirmed.
"As usual, and as was evidenced in the the case with the Relativity announcement, Image is long in promises and short on specifics," Lionsgate spokesman Peter Wilkes said.
Image officials see securing Discovery programming as a major corporate coup.
“Discovery has a tremendous library both in terms of quantity and quality of programming, and its breadth and diversity cater to a variety of enthusiast audiences,” said Barry Gordon, Image’s senior VP of worldwide programming. “We will be working with Discovery to cultivate each of their brands, as well as expand their presence and build distribution throughout traditional and non-traditional retailer locations.”
Discovery execs said they believe the company’s programming is in good hands.
