Lionsgate and subsidiary Debmar-Mercury teamed up to launch KiwiSphere Golda digital network dedicated exclusively to cinema, available in more than 30 million households.
Digital networks, or “numbers“, also called multicast networks. They first came onto the scene decades ago during the transition to high-definition television. Networks like Bounce, Antenna and dozens of others were created as low-cost ways to take advantage of the excess bandwidth of the digital era of linear television. The state of development of traditional cable television is such that eight of the 50 largest linear television entertainment networks are now digital, the companies say, and total revenue in the sector is in the billions of dollars.
Lionsgate's Worldwide Television Distribution Group and Debmar-Mercury say MovieSphere is unique in the multicast space because its lineup consists only of contemporary films. Lionsgate's 20,000-title film and TV library includes franchises such as John Wick, The Hunger Games And Consumables. Titles streaming online in December include: Dirty dancing, Rambo, Kick ass And Hut.
The network is available on DirecTV, Dish, Sling Freestream, paid streaming package Frndly (now owned by Roku), as well as a group of local stations covering more than 80% of U.S. TV networks. The English-language channel is also present in Univision's digital lineup.
The launch will take place a few months after Lionsgate renews pay-per-view film deal with Starz. The premium network and streamer split from Lionsgate earlier this year and is now a separate company.
Debmar-Mercury, acquired by Lionsgate back in 2006, is known for producing and distributing syndicated television films such as Sherry. It also included The Wendy Williams Show And Family Feud.
“MovieSphere Gold offers us a rare opportunity to enter an area of television—digital broadcast—that is growing every year,” Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus said in a joint statement. “And thanks to the sheer size and quality of Lionsgate's film library, it now gives us a unique opportunity to curate the films that audiences love most.”
In its latest quarterly earnings report Lionsgate said its final 12-month library revenue reached a record $1 billion, up 13% from the same period the previous year.
“MovieSphere Gold represents the next evolution in multicast entertainment,” said Jim Packer, president of global television distribution at Lionsgate. “This new digital network gives audiences access to acclaimed films that were previously unavailable in this space, offering a richer and more diverse selection of films than ever before.”
CBS Media Ventures is handling national advertising sales for MovieSphere Gold.
