LIONSGATE "POWERS UP" WITH DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS TO SABAN'S POWER RANGERS SAMURAI

Multi-Year Agreement Enables Lionsgate To Distribute DVD, Blu-ray And Multiple Digital Platforms For The Newly Produced Saban's Power Rangers Samurai And Super Samurai

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 22, 2012 /CNW/ - Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a leading diversified global entertainment company, has added some serious muscle – along with high-octane action and martial arts – to its family home entertainment division. In a licensing agreement with Saban Brands, the studio announced today that it has acquired the North American home entertainment distribution rights to the #1 rated kids action series Saban's Power Rangers Samurai, the newest chapter in the long-running, popular entertainment franchise. The deal was announced by Lionsgate Executive Vice President of Marketing and Family Entertainment Anne Parducci and Saban Brands President Elie Dekel.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120322/LA74656)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110919/LA70620LOGO)

Under the multi-year agreement, Lionsgate obtains all DVD and Blu-ray rights, as well as multiple digital rights for the newly revamped Power Rangers television series, Saban's Power Rangers Samurai and Saban's Power Rangers Super Samurai. Both shows currently air on Nickelodeon with Saban's Power Rangers Super Samurai premiering last month. The studio also acquired the distribution rights to two Power Rangers Christmas and Halloween specials, and a Power Rangers Movie special. The first releases in the deal, Power Rangers Samurai: The Team Unites and Power Rangers Samurai: A New Enemy, arrive on DVD and Digital Download for the first time on June 19th.

"For nearly 20 years, the Power Rangers have been synonymous with teamwork, friendship, fitness and fun. Saban's Power Rangers Samurai television series has continued that tradition by providing a humorous action-adventure that kids love with positive messages that parents value," said Parducci. "The success of the Nickelodeon television series proves that Samurai has attracted the attention of the millions of people who grew up on the Power Rangers, those who are now parents, and most importantly, a new generation of kids growing up today."

"Now Power Rangers fans everywhere will have the opportunity to watch the Samurai Rangers save the world from evil wherever they want," said Dekel. "Our agreement with Lionsgate not only provides great ways to watch content that fans may have seen on television, but it will also provide new and exciting additions to the series that fans are sure to love."

The deal with Saban Brands continues to build on Lionsgate's tremendous success distributing product from some of the most prominent family brands in the marketplace. Currently the industry's 2nd largest distributor of children's non-theatrical titles, Lionsgate releases to DVD a virtual who's-who in family entertainment brands, including HIT's Thomas & Friends, Barney, Angelina Ballerina and other titles from their vast library, MGA's Lalaloopsy and Bratz, LeapFrog, Scholastic's Clifford the Big Red Dog and American Greetings' The Care Bears.

About Saban's Power Rangers Samurai

Power Rangers Samurai is the all-new, half-hour series that features a new cast of Rangers and never-before-seen villains, as well as high-octane action, martial arts and advanced special effects. New episodes premiere Saturdays at noon (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon. Currently in its 19th season, Power Rangers Samurai is helmed by Haim Saban, who created and produced the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series in 1993. Following its introduction, Power Rangers quickly became the most-watched children's television program in the United States. Emphasizing the importance of teamwork, responsibility and helping others by following the adventures of a group of ordinary young people who "morphed" into superheroes, the series was seen in more than 60 countries, translated into numerous languages, and was a mainstay in the most prominent international children's programming blocks. Power Rangers LLC, which licenses and merchandises the Power Rangers brand, is an affiliate of Saban Brands. For more information, visit www.powerrangers.com.

About Saban Brands

Formed in 2010 as a subsidiary of Saban Capital Group, Saban Brands (SB) was established to acquire and develop a world-class portfolio of properties and capitalize on the company's experience, track record and capabilities in growing and monetizing consumer brands. SB applies a strategic transmedia management approach to enhancing and extending its brands in markets worldwide and to consumers of all ages. The company provides full-service management, marketing, promotion and strategic business development for its intellectual properties including comprehensive strategies unique to each brand, trademark and copyright management and enforcement, creative design, retail development, direct-to-consumer initiatives and specialized property extensions. SB is led by a superior management team with decades of experience in licensing, marketing and finance. For more information, visit www.sabanbrands.com

About Lionsgate

Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms and international distribution and sales. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 15 shows on more than 10 networks spanning its prime time production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as the multiple Emmy Award-winning "Mad Men", "Weeds" and "Nurse Jackie," the Golden Globe-winning drama "Boss" and the syndication successes "Tyler Perry's House Of Payne", its spinoff "Meet The Browns", "The Wendy Williams Show" and "Are We There Yet?".

Its feature film business has been fueled by such recent successes as THE LINCOLN LAWYER, TYLER PERRY'S MADEA'S BIG HAPPY FAMILY, THE EXPENDABLES, MARGIN CALL, THE LAST EXORCISM and the critically-acclaimed PRECIOUS, which won two Academy Awards®. With the January 2012 acquisition of Summit Entertainment, the Company now has the two leading young adult franchises – the blockbuster TWILIGHT SAGA, which has grossed more than $2.5 billion at the worldwide box office, and the HUNGER GAMES franchise, whose first film will be released on March 23. Recent Summit hits include RED, LETTERS TO JULIET, KNOWING, the STEP UP franchise and the Academy Award winning Best Picture THE HURT LOCKER.

Lionsgate's home entertainment business is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 13,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the 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.

For Press Inquiries Contact:

For Lionsgate
Jennifer Sandler
310-255-4072
[email protected]

For Saban Brands
Rebecca Dubick / Kelsey Lynch
Burson-Marsteller
310-309-6600
[email protected] [email protected]

For Lionsgate Corporate Inquiries, Contact:

Peter D. Wilkes
310-255-3726
[email protected]

SOURCE Lionsgate

http://www.lionsgate.com

http://www.powerrangers.com

http://www.sabanbrands.com

http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110919/LA70620LOGO

PRN Photo Desk, [email protected]