KEVIN BEGGS PROMOTED TO CHAIRMAN, LIONSGATE TELEVISION GROUP

SANTA MONICA, Calif. and VANCOUVER, Sept. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move reflecting the continued growth and diversification of Lionsgate's (NYSE: LGF) television business, Kevin Beggs has been promoted to Chairman of the Lionsgate Television Group as part of his new long-term agreement with the Company, it was announced today at Lionsgate's Annual Shareholders Meeting in Toronto, Canada.

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Mr. Beggs will continue to oversee development and production of all scripted and non-scripted programming for broadcast, cable and digital platforms worldwide, and he will continue to report to Lionsgate Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer.  Under Mr. Beggs' leadership, Lionsgate's television roster has diversified to encompass 30 series on 20 different networks, including the multiple Emmy Award-winning Mad Men, the hit series Weeds and Nurse Jackie, the 10+90 series Anger Management, the broadcast network series Nashville and the critically-acclaimed breakout Orange is the New Black.

"Kevin epitomizes the entrepreneurial leadership, innovative thinking and creative vision that have shaped the consistent and successful evolution of our television business," said Feltheimer. "He is an integral part of a management team notable for its breadth, depth and continuity, and we are confident that he will lead our Television Group to continued growth and diversification in the years to come."

Under Mr. Beggs' leadership, Lionsgate has continued to build on its longstanding strength in creating hit series for cable networks while diversifying into broadcast network series, a growing roster of TV shows built on the 10+90 model that the Company pioneered, original programming for digital platforms, nonfiction shows and event programming for cable networks.

Lionsgate recently sold two new 10+90 series, the George Lopez show and a Martin Lawrence/Kelsey Grammer sitcom, to join Anger Management on F/X.  The Company has also made a successful foray into creating content for digital platforms with Orange is the New Black, already renewed for a second season on Netflix, and the recently-announced Deadbeat on Hulu.  Lionsgate's broadcast network series Nashville has been renewed for a second season on ABC and has already generated two hit soundtracks.

Mr. Beggs joined Lionsgate in 1998 and has guided the television division's growth from $8 million in revenue in 2000 to nearly $400 million last year.

Mr. Beggs holds leadership roles in several industry organizations and charities, serving on the Board and Executive Committees of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the Los Angeles Paley Center for Media and the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE), which he served as Chairman for three years.

He also serves on the Board of the Zimmer Children's Museum, the Banff World Media Festival, the Hollywood Radio & Television Society (HRTS) and the charity My Friend's Place.  In addition, he is a member of the Board of Directors of TVGN (TV Guide Network), Lionsgate's 50/50 partnership with CBS Corporation, and EPIX, Lionsgate's channel venture with Viacom and MGM. Mr. Beggs will receive Operation Smile's John Connor Humanitarian Award later this month.

Lionsgate has also recently announced new long-term contracts for Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer, Vice Chairman Michael Burns, Co-Chief Operating Officer Brian Goldsmith, General Counsel and Chief Strategic Officer Wayne Levin, Jason Constantine, Motion Picture Group President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions, and Ron Schwartz, President and General Manager, Home Entertainment Sales & Distribution. 

About Lionsgate

Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms and international distribution and sales. Lionsgate currently has 30 television shows on 20 different networks spanning its primetime production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as the multiple Emmy Award-winning Mad Men and Nurse Jackie, the comedy Anger Management, the network series Nashville, the syndication success The Wendy Williams Show and the critically-acclaimed new series Orange Is The New Black.

Its feature film business has been fueled by such recent successes as the blockbuster first installment of The Hunger Games franchise, The Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn – Part 2, Now You See Me, Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain, Warm Bodies, Snitch, Texas Chainsaw 3D, The Expendables 2, The Possession, Sinister, Arbitrage and Pantelion Films' breakout hit Instructions Not Included, one of the highest-grossing Spanish-language films ever in the U.S.

Lionsgate's home entertainment business is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 15,000 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 and Summit brands remain synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

For further information, please contact:
Peter D. Wilkes
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SOURCE Lionsgate