MGM Expands Worldwide Television Distribution Group

MGM Expands Worldwide Television Distribution Group

Jim Packer to Lead New Senior Management Team as President

Studio to Launch Sales Campaign for 'Casino Royale' and 'Rocky Balboa' as Well as Movie Franchises 'Legally Blonde,' 'WarGames,' 'Species' and 'Into The Blue'

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) is reinvigorating its worldwide television distribution operation, hiring senior management and bringing a number of new high profile programs to buyers around the globe. The announcement was made today by Harry E. Sloan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, MGM and Rick Sands, Chief Operating Officer, MGM.

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The restructured MGM Worldwide Television Distribution Group, which reports to Sands, is headed by seasoned distribution executive Jim Packer, who assumes the new title of President. In this position, Packer remains in charge of television distribution worldwide, including U.S. barter sales and syndication, as well as all emerging forms of television programming distribution on a worldwide basis.

"After reinvigorating our domestic theatrical distribution business with over 20 new theatrical pictures a year, and establishing a dedicated MGM sales force in partnership with Fox Video, the next logical step is to expand our worldwide television distribution operation to meet our increased activity and product flow," said Sloan in announcing the division's restructuring. "Further, the international market for TV product has never been healthier and MGM continues to be an active and extremely competitive player in the marketplace."

Sands added: "As aggressive and smart competitors, the reorganization of our worldwide television distribution operation is simply one way of maximizing the assets in our library and positions us for future growth in the marketplace. Jim Packer has already made significant contributions during his tenure at MGM and we are pleased he will be leading us to even bigger growth opportunities in his new role as President of the group."

"After spending the last six years here at MGM, I truly understand the value of this tremendous library," said Packer. "Having been given the challenge of increasing our market presence, I could not be more enthused about the expansion of our worldwide distribution team. With 'Casino Royale,' 'Rocky Balboa' and our new slate of premiere movie titles, our expanded distribution presence comes at the ideal time."

Adding fuel to its distribution pipeline, MGM Worldwide Television Distribution Group will handle the international television sales for "Casino Royale" the new James Bond movie starring Daniel Craig, and "Rocky Balboa," the sixth and final Rocky movie starring Sylvester Stallone. Leveraging proven properties within the massive MGM library, the MGM Worldwide Television Distribution Group will launch a worldwide sales campaign for the following movies:

*"Legally Blonde 3" -- Beauty and brains bring big laughs.

*"Cutting Edge 3" -- The romantic drama about the quest for victory among
professional ice skaters.

*"Into the Blue 2" -- A new and exciting installment based on the action
thriller about aspiring treasure hunters.

*"WarGames 2" -- Scheduled to begin shooting in Montreal in November, the
thrilling story of what happens when top officials try to dismantle the
famous computer.

*"Species 4" -- The fourth installment of the Species franchise continues
in Mexico, where new experiments with DNA bring horrific results. An
MGM/360 Production, Frank Mancuso, Jr. will oversee production beginning
in October on "Species 4." Mancuso has served as the producer or
executive producer on the previous "Species" movies.

In addition to its new program offerings, the MGM Worldwide Television Distribution Group will continue to handle distribution of over 4,000 movie titles and 10,000 television series that make up the MGM library, the world's largest modern filmed and television library. Among the key television properties featured in the MGM catalogue are "Stargate SG-1," the sci-fi series that is celebrating its record-setting 200th episode on the Sci-Fi Channel, and the immensely popular drama series "The L Word," which airs on Showtime in the U.S.

With the announcement of the MGM Worldwide Television Distribution Group restructuring, MGM has also announced key promotions within the group. Joe Patrick has been promoted to Executive Vice President, North America. He previously served as Senior Vice President for the studio and is based in Los Angeles. Mary Ann Pasante, who has been the Vice President of Latin America Sales, has also been promoted to Senior Vice President of Latin America Sales and will continue to be based in Atlanta.

Packer, who joined MGM in 2001, initially served as Executive Vice President, Domestic TV. In this post, he was the architect of several innovative partnerships, including the MGM/UPN "Weekend Movie" and the PAX/MGM "Night at the Movies."

Packer was promoted to Executive Vice President of MGM's Worldwide Television Distribution unit in April 2005, charged with oversight of the studio's worldwide TV distribution activities, including the licensing of MGM programming to TV outlets around the world for free to air network television, basic and pay cable. Packer will continue to be based at the studio's headquarters in Los Angeles.

Before joining MGM, Packer was an executive with The Walt Disney Company, where he spent 15 years working within the Buena Vista Domestic Television Distribution unit. During his tenure at Buena Vista, Packer consistently increased his areas of responsibility, handling the distribution of off-network product, theatrical films and first run series, including such properties as "Home Improvement," "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" and "The Golden Girls," as well as numerous movie packages. Packer, a graduate of Leeds Business School at the University of Colorado at Boulder, also serves on the Board of Governors for the Museum of Television & Radio.

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., through its operating subsidiaries is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music, and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world's largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,000 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Distribution Co., MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in international TV channels reaching nearly 110 countries. MGM ownership is as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29%), Texas Pacific Group (21%), Sony Corporation of America (20%), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%) and Quadrangle Group (3%). For more information, visit www.mgm.com.

CONTACT:
Jeff Pryor
Executive Vice President/Corporate Communications
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
p. 310-449-3446; e. jpryor@mgm.com;

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Source: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.

CONTACT: Jeff Pryor, Executive Vice President/Corporate Communications
of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., +1-310-449-3446, jpryor@mgm.com

Web site: http://www.mgm.com/

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