Sony Pictures Television International Forms First Fully Government Approved Television and Film Production Joint Venture in the People's Republic of China

    BEIJING, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Pictures Television International
 (SPTI) and Hua Long Film Digital Production Co., Ltd., of China Film Group
 (CFG), have formed the first U.S.-Sino television and film co-production joint
 venture approved by the People's Republic of China's (PRC's) national
 government, including regulatory bodies the State Administration of Radio,
 Film & Television (SARFT) and the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM).  The joint
 venture, Huaso Film/Television Digital Production Company Limited, will be
 known as "Huaso," an acronym combining "Hua Long" with "Sony," with CFG
 holding a majority interest.  The announcement was made today by Michael
 Grindon, President, SPTI, and Yang Buting, Chairman, CFG.
     Huaso has opened offices in Beijing and will be run by a board of
 directors, with Dandan Zhang recently appointed as General Manager to oversee
 day-to-day operations.  Huaso currently has a number of Chinese-language
 projects in development, including light entertainment and sitcom properties,
 drama series and TV movies, for distribution within and outside the PRC.  This
 year SPTI will produce television programming in Asia in India, Japan,
 Indonesia, Thailand and Taiwan.  This joint venture is part of SPTI's larger
 commitment to increase production capabilities in Asia.
     "China Film Group is the preeminent company in the PRC's movie and TV
 industry, and we are honored to be partners with them in this
 first-of-its-kind joint venture with national reach," said Grindon.  "We are
 grateful to SARFT and MOFCOM for approving Huaso and for recognizing SPTI's
 commitment to the growth of Chinese language television production in the PRC.
 With Dandan Zhang as Huaso's General Manager, we are excited by the prospect
 of producing Mandarin language content in the PRC for the people of the PRC
 and beyond."
     "Sony and China Film Group have a long history of co-producing and
 distributing Chinese films," said Yang.  "Huaso combines the strength and
 experience of two premier leaders in the filmed entertainment business.  Sony
 and CFG have grasped an unprecedented opportunity as the Chinese film and TV
 industry opens up.  This landmark joint venture is one step ahead of the
 industry, having received SARFT and MOFCOM approvals in July 2004.  For the
 very first time a Hollywood studio will be co-producing television programming
 specifically for the PRC and global audiences."
     CFG is an established feature film and television production,
 post-production and distribution company employing 3,200 employees in its
 various businesses, including the Beijing Film Studio, Movie Channel CCTV-6
 (run by CCTV, China's national network and the world's largest TV
 broadcaster), Huayun Laser Disc Co., and the China Film Equipment Corporation.
 CFG is the only Chinese company authorized by the Chinese national government
 to import foreign films.  CFG also owns a cinema chain in China.  SPE has
 worked with CFG on digital post-production for Chinese feature films,
 including "Warriors of Heaven & Earth" and "Ultraviolet."
     As General Manager of Huaso, Zhang will be responsible for the
 greenlighting of projects, all staffing and contractual and financial matters.
 She was most recently Director and Substituting Station Chief of Sun TV in
 Hong Kong.  Zhang was formerly Vice President of Five Star TV in Hong Kong and
 Beijing.  She also served as a Producer/Director at Chinese Television Network
 in Hong Kong, a News Anchor/Producer at Cathay International TV in Canada and
 was the Editor/Supervisor at the Economic Daily in Beijing.
 
     About Sony Pictures Television International
     Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) operates three complementary
 lines of business: 1) distribution of Sony Pictures Entertainment's feature
 films and television programming to television outlets around the world,
 2) local television production in key international markets, and
 3) international television networks.  In addition to being a leader in the
 distribution of current and classic U.S. and international films and
 television product worldwide, SPTI produces high profile, locally produced
 television in local languages.  With dedicated offices in France, Germany,
 Hong Kong, Italy, Miami (Latin America), Spain and the United Kingdom, SPTI
 currently oversees production in seven regions.  SPTI's worldwide television
 networks portfolio is a key strategy in the Company's long-range commitment to
 the global marketplace, with over 35 networks in more than 100 countries
 reaching over 240 million viewers worldwide.  SPTI is a Sony Pictures
 Entertainment company.
 
      Contact:
      Ron Sato
      Sony Pictures Television International
      +1 310 244 4687
      ron_sato@spe.sony.com
 
 

SOURCE  Sony Pictures Television International