Jon Feltheimer Named MIPCOM 2010 Personality of the Year

PARIS, SANTA MONICA, Calif., and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Reed MIDEM has named Jon Feltheimer, Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), MIPCOM 2010 Personality of the Year.

Mr. Feltheimer is being recognised for his leadership at the helm of Lionsgate and for driving creative productions and developing award-winning TV programs, including Mad Men, which have become global phenomena. Feltheimer will be honoured on 5 October during the annual MIPCOM Gala Dinner, which unites the world's leading executives shaping the global TV and digital entertainment industry.

On October 5, Mr. Feltheimer will share his vision of the future of the entertainment industry with MIPCOM delegates during a keynote address as part of MIPCOM's Media Mastermind series of presentations.

"MIPCOM is saluting Jon Feltheimer's distinguished 25-year career of leadership at independent studios Lionsgate and New World, as well as major studio Sony Pictures. We are presenting the 2010 Personality of the Year Award to Mr. Feltheimer for his achievements at Lionsgate in creating global hit TV programming, including Mad Men, which appeals to audiences worldwide," says Reed MIDEM Chief Executive Officer Paul Zilk. "Throughout his career, Jon Feltheimer has been a leading visionary and architect of the TV and film industry, and MIPCOM is delighted to honour him this year." 

"I am honoured to receive this award from MIPCOM and to be recognised in the company of so many of the pillars of the global entertainment community," said Feltheimer. "We at Lionsgate remain committed to joining the rest of our community in harnessing new business models, new technologies and new markets to bring the work of our creative visionaries to a global audience." 

Jon Feltheimer has served as Chief Executive Officer of Lionsgate since March 2000.  During his 10-year tenure, he and Vice Chairman Michael Burns have grown Lionsgate into the leading next generation filmed entertainment studio with $1.8 billion in projected revenues this year. Lionsgate manages one of the most prestigious and prolific libraries in the entertainment industry and operates a diverse portfolio of businesses, including a vibrant television operation, an exciting, commercially potent feature film slate and a growing array of domestic and international channel platforms.

Feltheimer previously served for nine years at Sony Pictures as head of the Columbia TriStar Television Group, head of Sony Entertainment Television and executive Vice President of SPE, leading the television group's evolution into an international powerhouse that launched or partnered in nearly 30 branded channels, regional networks and co-production ventures around the world. While at Sony, Feltheimer's strong creative talent relationships helped lead to such hits as "Mad About You," "The Nanny," "Dawson's Creek," "Party of Five" and "King Of Queens".  He previously was President of New World Entertainment.

The MIPCOM Personality of the Year Award recognises industry executives for their exceptional career and contribution in the entertainment sector. Jon Feltheimer joins an elite list of previous recipients that includes CNN founder Ted Turner, Viacom Chairman Sumner Redstone, CBS President and Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves, former Time Warner Chief Executive Officer Richard Parsons, MTV Networks Chairman and CEO Tom Freston, former News Corporation President and COO Peter Chernin, Gustavo Cisneros, Chairman and CEO of the Cisneros Group, Gerhard Zeiler, CEO of RTL Group and Canal Plus founder André Rousselet.

ABOUT LIONSGATE

Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) is the leading next generation studio with a strong and diversified presence in the production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, video-on-demand and digitally delivered content. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of primetime cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming through Debmar-Mercury and an array of channel platform assets.

Lionsgate currently has nearly 20 shows on 10 different networks spanning its prime time production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as "Mad Men," "Weeds" and "Nurse Jackie" along with new series such as "Running Wilde" and "Blue Mountain State" and the syndication successes "Tyler Perry's House of Payne," its spinoff "Meet The Browns" and "The Wendy Williams Show."  Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 12,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

ABOUT REED MIDEM

Reed Exhibitions is the world's leading events organiser, with over 440 events in 36 countries. In 2009 Reed brought together over six million active event participants from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and organised by 35 fully staffed offices.

Reed organises a wide range of events, including trade and consumer exhibitions, conferences and meetings. Its portfolio of over 440 events serves 44 industry sectors, including: Aerospace & aviation, automobiles, beauty & cosmetics, broadcasting, building & construction, electronics, energy, oil & gas, engineering & manufacturing, food service & hospitality, gifts, healthcare, interior design, IT & telecoms, jewellery, life science & pharmaceuticals, machinery, marketing, business services & training, medical education, printing & graphics, security & safety, sports & recreation, travel.

Working closely with professional bodies, trade associations and government departments Reed ensures that each and every event is targeted and relevant to industry needs. As a result, many Reed events are market leaders in their field.

Reed Exhibitions is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc, a FTSE-100 company and world-leading publisher and information provider. In 2009, Reed Elsevier made an adjusted profit before taxation of pounds Sterling 1,279 million on turnover of pounds Sterling 6,071 million

For further information about Reed MIDEM visit www.reedmidem.com.

For further information, please contact:

Peter D. Wilkes

Lionsgate

(310) 255-3726

[email protected]

SOURCE Lionsgate