Electric Sky Brokers 'Spirits' to Europe, South America and Africa
New York, NY – February 5, 2007 – Poised to repeat last year's overwhelming success, Rainbow Media announced today the solid early sales of its exclusive coverage of the 2007 Independent Spirit Awards Ceremony to broadcasters on three continents. The sales-brokered by UK's Electric Sky-come with nearly three weeks before the event, a pace well ahead of the process last year. Broadcasters already onboard include NonStop Television's entertainment channel Star! (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, The Netherlands and Belgium), ITV4 (UK and Ireland) and Infinito (Latin America, Brazil, Portugal and Portuguese speaking Africa).
Hosted annually on the Saturday before the Oscars, the Spirit Awards is a celebration of independent filmmakers who bring a unique vision and a spirit of independence to filmmaking. This year's ceremony, which takes place on February 24, will be hosted by the ever-hilarious Sarah Silverman, who also hosted last year's successful broadcast.
In addition to offering its exclusive coverage of the 2007 Independent Spirit Awards worldwide, Rainbow Media is providing triple-platform coverage of the event, including red carpet celebrity arrivals before the awards ceremony and a post-ceremony rebroadcast highlighting the fashions, personalities and spontaneous moments of the night.
"The overwhelming success of last year's global 'Spirits' broadcast speaks volumes about the event's worldwide relevance and appeal," said Glenn Oakley, Rainbow Media's Senior Vice President of Business Development. "As we continue to expand our global reach, it is this level of programming quality that will come to define Rainbow's international brands, whether specials, series, films or channels."
"We're pleased at the opportunity to again provide this exciting event to the international marketplace," said Electric Sky's Chief Executive, David Pounds. "If these early sales are any indication, we should deliver another exceptional distribution performance this year."
In 2006-the first year the premiere independent film award show was aired internationally-broadcasters in more than 65 countries and territories around the globe bought the rights to share Rainbow's exclusive coverage with their viewers. This list included Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, The British Virgin Islands, The Cayman Islands, Cuba, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, French, Grenada, Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Jamaica, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Martinique, Mexico, Montserrat, Mozambique, The Netherlands, The Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Suriname, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Trinidad, Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.
About Film Independent and its Spirit Awards
Film Independent, the largest non-profit membership organization for independent filmmakers, cultivates the careers of independent filmmakers, builds the audience for independent films, and increases diversity in the film industry. Film Independent provides its members with more than 250 annual events and screenings, along with professional advice, educational programs, affordable camera and equipment rentals, and discounts to hundreds of industry-related businesses.
Film Independent also offers Filmmaker Labs, giving filmmakers the opportunity to develop their projects, and Project:Involve, a mentorship and job placement program that pairs filmmakers from culturally diverse communities with film industry professionals. Film Independent produces the Independent Spirit Awards and Los Angeles Film Festival, celebrating the best of American and international independent cinema. For more information, visit www.FilmIndependent.org.
About Electric Sky
Electric Sky is a cutting edge, forward thinking, and innovative distribution and rights-management company. Specialising in quality factual programme distribution, it's a company that has commanded a strong reputation throughout the industry. With a diverse catalogue featuring over 1000 hours of inspired programming and a vast network of contacts in the international marketplace, the company has continued to enjoy a successful business growth since it was established in 1998.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media creates and manages some of the country's most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands including popular national and regional television channels AMC, fuse, The Independent Film Channel (IFC), WE tv, and two FSN affiliated regional sports networks managed by Rainbow Sports Networks. The company also manages Mag Rack and sportskool, two original on-demand networks; VOOM HD Networks, the largest and most diverse suite of high definition channels available anywhere; IFC Entertainment, its film distribution, production and exhibition division; Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales division; and Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company.