Corus Entertainment to launch the celebrated brand March 1, 2010
December 8, 2009 – Toronto, Canada Corus Entertainment (TSX:CJR.B, NYSE:CJR) and Rainbow Media today announced that they have finalized a licensing agreement that will enable Corus to add Sundance Channel to its portfolio of Canadian specialty services. Under the creative direction of Robert Redford, Sundance Channel features a broad range of programming, from niche, genre-focused cinema to socially provocative films, documentaries and original series. Sundance Channel will launch on Monday, March 1, 2010.
"Sundance Channel is a unique movies and lifestyle channel that will provide a diverse and engaging selection of films, documentaries and original programs that are typically not offered by other services in Canada," said John Cassaday, President and CEO, Corus Entertainment. "Corus is proud of the opportunity to launch this world-renowned brand in Canada and enhance the quality and breadth of programming for our audiences."
Films on the network will include titles such as the 1984 John Sayles’ urban fantasy comedy/sci-fi gem The Brother from Another Planet, Dae-wung Lim’s horror picture Bloody Reunion and the American Film Theatre’s film adaptations of stage plays such as The Iceman Cometh starring Jeff Bridges. Documentaries include Errol Morris’ off-centre look at pet cemeteries in the acclaimed 1978 Gates of Heaven, Rupert Murray’s exploration of the ocean crisis in The End of the Line and an entertaining look at a rapidly expanding musical subculture in Nerdcore Rising.
Original series will include Isabella Rossellini’s critically acclaimed Green Porno, which takes a scientifically accurate yet extremely entertaining look at the reproductive habits of marine animals and other creatures; and The Lazy Environmentalist, which makes the case that helping the planet doesn’t have to be hard.
Sundance Channel is available in Canada based on a licence agreement with Rainbow Media.
About Sundance Channel
Sundance Channel is the television destination for independent-minded viewers seeking something different. Sundance Channel offers audiences a diverse and engaging selection of films, documentaries, and original programs, including the critically-acclaimed original Iconoclasts and web series such as Isabella Rossellini’s Green Porno. Under the creative direction of Robert Redford, Sundance Channel launched in 1996 and was acquired by Rainbow Media in 2008. Building on its success with the transactional On Demand platform, Rainbow Media launched Sundance Selects in 2009, an On Demand offering for feature documentary films.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media owns and operates some of the world’s most popular and award-winning entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv, Wedding Central and IFC Entertainment (IFC Center, IFC Festival Direct, IFC Films, IFC In Theaters and IFC Productions). Additional information about Rainbow Media’s multiplatform brands is available at www.rainbow-media.com.
About Corus Entertainment Inc.
Corus Entertainment Inc. is a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, advertising services, television broadcasting, children’s book publishing and children’s animation. The Company’s multimedia entertainment brands include YTV, Treehouse, W Network, CosmoTV, VIVA, Movie Central, HBO Canada, Nelvana, Kids Can Press and radio stations including CKNW, CKOI and Q107. Corus creates engaging branded entertainment experiences for its audiences across multiple platforms. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto (CJR.B) and New York (CJR) exchanges. Experience Corus on the web at www.corusent.com.