DIGITAL MEDIA ENTREPRENEUR JULIE UHRMAN TO SPEARHEAD CONTINUED ROLLOUT OF LIONSGATE'S STREAMING SERVICES

New Hire Reflects Growth of Company's Suite of Online Platforms

SANTA MONICA, Calif., and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 6, 2016 /CNW/ -- Reflecting its commitment to deliver content directly to consumers, Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a premier next generation global content leader, has named digital media entrepreneur Julie Uhrman to the newly created position of Executive Vice President & General Manager of Lionsgate Over-The-Top (OTT) Ventures, the Company announced today.

Ms. Uhrman will spearhead the strategy, rollout and growth of Lionsgate's current streaming services in addition to exploring new opportunities.  The Company is continuing to roll out a suite of branded online platforms in collaboration with major partners, backed by its 16,000-title film and television library, distinguished by careful curation and targeted to niche audiences that it knows well.

Lionsgate has already launched Tribeca Shortlist, a service for movie lovers with celebrity-curated movie "shortlists" and Comic-Con HQ, the destination for all things pop culture.

Upcoming channel rollouts include Laugh Out Loud (LOL), the exclusive over-the-top destination for millennial facing comedy with original content from Kevin Hart, and Lionsgate's recently announced Spanish-language movie service targeting Hispanic moviegoers in the U.S. 

Ms. Uhrman will work closely with the management of each of the four channels on content, curation and marketing strategies and help expand the domestic and international distribution footprints of each service across digital, cable, telco and satellite platforms.

"Julie brings to the continued development of our streaming services great vision, entrepreneurial spirit and a strong track record of growing digital media platforms," said Lionsgate Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer. "She is the perfect choice to round out an executive team with the complementary skills and vision to position our growing suite of online channels to serve next generation consumers around the world."

"Lionsgate is a content powerhouse with a deep portfolio of films and television series and a strong focus on growth opportunities in the digital media landscape," said Ms. Uhrman.  "With four platforms launched or planned, Lionsgate has already built great momentum in the OTT space.  I'm delighted to join a team of visionary executives in helping these channels reach their full potential while we continue to identify exciting new opportunities."

Her appointment continues to add depth to the executive team shepherding the rollout of Lionsgate's suite of OTT platforms.  The team includes Lionsgate Co-Chief Operating Officer Brian Goldsmith, President of Worldwide Television & Digital Distribution Jim Packer, President of Interactive Ventures & Games Peter Levin and Executive Vice President of Television Operations & Corporate Development Laura Kennedy.

Ms. Uhrman previously served as Head of Platform Business Development, at Jaunt, Inc., the leading cinematic virtual reality company, developing and extending relationships with Disney, Samsung, LG Electronics, Oculus, PlayStation and Google, among others. She was also founder and CEO of OUYA, the first Android-based game console for television, which she later sold to Razer. Prior to that, Ms. Uhrman held key executive roles in digital and game companies such as IGN Entertainment and Vivendi Universal.  She has been named one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company and one of the Creative 50 by Ad Age.

Ms. Uhrman received her undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis and her Master's in Business Administration from the UCLA Anderson School of Business.

ABOUT LIONSGATE

Lionsgate is a premier next generation global content leader with a diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, international distribution and sales, branded channel platforms, interactive ventures and games, and location-based entertainment.  The Company has nearly 80 television shows on 40 different networks spanning its primetime production, distribution and syndication businesses.  These include the ground-breaking hit series Orange is the New Black, the fan favorite drama series Nashville, the syndication success The Wendy Williams Show, the hit drama The Royals, the Golden Globe-nominated dramedy Casual and the breakout success Greenleaf.

The Company's feature film business spans eight labels and includes the blockbuster Hunger Games franchise, the Now You See Me and John Wick series, Nerve, CBS Films/Lionsgate's Hell or High Water, Sicario, Roadside Attractions' Love & Mercy and Mr. Holmes, Codeblack Films' Addicted and breakout concert film Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain and Pantelion Films' Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S.

Lionsgate's home entertainment business is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rates.  Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 16,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as a foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate and Summit brands remain synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world. www.lionsgate.com

For further information, please contact:  
Cristina Castaneda
Lionsgate
[phone]
[email protected]

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SOURCE Lionsgate