Gannett Co., Inc. And The Weinstein Company Enter Into A Unique First Look Film And Television Development Deal Accessing All Gannett News Content From Its Vast Portfolio Of National And Local Brands

NEW YORK, April 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Gannett Co., Inc. and The Weinstein Company (TWC) have entered into a unique first look development deal offering TWC access to the extraordinary resources of Gannett and its powerful network of broadcast, digital, mobile and publishing assets.  This unprecedented first look deal will allow the production studio and distributor to develop multiplatform projects.  The deal provides opportunities to elevate on a national and international basis, editorial that appears across Gannett's vast network of trusted brands, including the iconic and award-winning USA TODAY. Gannett has operations in more than 100 markets across the country, generating stories of interest to consumers. Combined, those brands engage more than 118 million people daily with a wide variety of content generated on a local and national level.  The joint announcement was made today at the Gannett Upfront in New York by Maryam Banikarim, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Gannett Co., Inc. and Meryl Poster, President of Television, The Weinstein Company.

Gannett and TWC will retain a development executive to run lead on this new business venture, which will serve as a new development pipeline for both scripted and non-scripted fare.  TWC will distribute all titles that move forward through the program content partnership.  Additional details about the joint venture will be forthcoming.

"The Weinstein Company has been turning local stories into national conversations to critical acclaim for years. Gannett is thrilled to share the great content from our award-winning editorial teams and work with The Weinstein Company to develop these stories into what could be the next blockbuster," said Banikarim. "In addition to being a great producer and distributor, The Weinstein Company is also an innovative marketer, and together we will bring new content partnerships as well as branded entertainment opportunities to our advertisers." 

David Glasser, Chief Operating Officer and President, The Weinstein Company said, "This groundbreaking venture with Gannett will allow us to discover and explore rich new storylines and narratives for a wide array of audiences.  The Gannett portfolio of content is extraordinary in its breadth and scope of material and this innovative deal will provide unprecedented opportunity in the media marketplace."

Poster added, "A great film or television series starts with a good idea and those ideas can come from anywhere.  Our deal with Gannett gives us a unique opportunity to mine new content from the community level, where powerful and compelling stories often begin. We're looking forward to exploring the rich local and national landscape covered by Gannett news organizations across the country and finding those untold stories and relatable characters."

TWC has produced the critically acclaimed films "The King's Speech," "The Artist," "The Butler" and "Silver Linings Playbook" among many others, and has successful series airing on various cable networks including HBO, A&E, Lifetime, VH1 and TLC. Current TWC series on air include "Project Runway: Under The Gunn."  TWC is in pre production for the 13^th season of the venerable hit series "Project Runway" and "Project Runway: All Stars" as well as the fifth season of the hit series "Mob Wives." 

About The Weinstein Company

The Weinstein Company (TWC) is a multimedia production and distribution company launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979. TWC also encompasses Dimension Films, the genre label founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, which has released such popular franchises as SCREAM, SPY KIDS and SCARY MOVIE. Together TWC and Dimension Films have released a broad range of mainstream, genre and specialty films that have been commercial and critical successes.  During Harvey and Bob's tenure at Miramax and The Weinstein Company, they have received 348 Oscar nominations and won 82 Academy Awards.

Since 2005, TWC and Dimension Films have released such films as GRINDHOUSE; 1408; I'M NOT THERE; THE GREAT DEBATERS; VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA; THE READER; THE ROAD; HALLOWEEN; THE PAT TILLMAN STORY; PIRANHA 3D; INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS; A SINGLE MAN; BLUE VALENTINE; THE COMPANY MEN; MIRAL; SCRE4M; SUBMARINE; DIRTY GIRL; APOLLO 18; OUR IDIOT BROTHER; I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT; SARAH'S KEY; SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD IN 4D; MY WEEK WITH MARILYN; THE IRON LADY; W.E.; CORIOLANUS; UNDEFEATED; THE ARTIST; BULLY; THE INTOUCHABLES; LAWLESS; KILLING THEM SOFTLY; THE MASTER; SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK; DJANGO UNCHAINED; QUARTET; ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH; DARK SKIES; THE SAPPHIRES; SCARY MOVIE 5; KON-TIKI; UNFINISHED SONG; FRUITVALE STATION; LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER; THE GRANDMASTER; SALINGER and 12-12-12. Currently in release are PHILOMENA, MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM; AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY and VAMPIRE ACADEMY. Upcoming releases include ST. VINCENT, THE RAILWAY MAN, CAN A SONG SAVE YOUR LIFE, THE GIVER, FRANK MILLER'S SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR and PADDINGTON.

TWC also boasts an active television production division led by former Miramax Films Co-President of Production Meryl Poster. TWC garnered nine Emmy nominations in 2013. The Weinstein Company Television produces the reality powerhouse Project Runway, prepping for its 13th season on Lifetime; with its spin-off series and critically-acclaimed Project Runway All Stars, hosted by Alyssa Milano and Project Runway Under The Gunn, hosted by Tim Gunn which is currently on air.  TWC series that were produced in 2013 include Mob Wives Season 4 which VH1 has green lit for Season 5, Million Dollar Shoppers for Lifetime, Rodeo Girls for A&E and Trailer Park: Welcome to Myrtle Manor Season 2 for TLC.  Announced scripted projects in development include John Fusco's historical action-adventure epic Marco Polo, Ten Commandments a 10 part event series with each episode to be helmed by a different A-list director and focusing on one commandment and an adaptation of Daniel Stashower's bestselling Civil War-era spy thriller The Hour Of Peril.  TWC also developed Amy Sherman Palladino's The Nanny Diaries for ABC and produced the Peabody award-winning HBO series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, directed by Anthony Minghella.

About Gannett

Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is an international media and marketing solutions company that informs and engages more than 118 million people daily through its powerful network of broadcast, digital, mobile and publishing properties. Our portfolio of trusted brands offers marketers unmatched local-to-national reach and customizable, innovative marketing solutions across any platform. Gannett is committed to connecting people – and the companies who want to reach them – with their interests and communities. For more information, visit www.gannett.com.

SOURCE Gannett Co., Inc.; The Weinstein Company