SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a diversified global entertainment company, has again underscored its commitment to innovative leadership in the digital media space through the steady growth of its recently launched dedicated YouTube fitness channel, Lionsgate BeFit, which has accumulated more than 1.5 million views of the new channel in the past month alone and is already expanding its content offerings, said Lionsgate Executive Vice President, Home Entertainment Marketing Anne Parducci.

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Lionsgate further bolstered its reputation as a leader and innovator in the fitness home entertainment market with the launch of the new channel on YouTube, the premier online destination to watch and share original videos worldwide. The new channel is part of YouTube's recent entertainment programming venture that delivers niche-oriented original content produced by some of the world's most respected content creators to the online video entertainment community.  The channel also extends Lionsgate's strategy of allying itself with world-class, brand name partners in all of its businesses.

Lionsgate BeFit is the most recent example of the Company's commitment to remain at the cutting edge of content creation and delivery by adopting new digital technologies to deliver a targeted and compelling experience direct to the consumer whenever and wherever they want it.  Lionsgate credited the channel's early success with its combination of exciting original programming and one of the world's leading home entertainment fitness libraries.

"BeFit has accumulated 1.5 million views over the past month and is growing in viewership by a double digit percentage every week, and we believe that our ability to combine compelling original content and a broad and deep catalog of fitness brands positions us for long term success," said Parducci.  "We're delighted to partner with YouTube and pleased to be one of the first studios to utilize their platform for a dedicated, branded channel."

An ad-supported one-stop shop for free, high-quality fitness programming, Lionsgate BeFit features original new shows focusing on the latest trends in fitness and featuring top trainers and brands.  Lionsgate BeFit also includes programming from Lionsgate's extensive catalog of fitness content including the #1 selling brand Jillian Michaels, Jane Fonda, Denise Austin, Deepak Chopra & Tara Stiles as well as dance workouts based on the top rated television series "Dancing with the Stars" and the wildly popular film Dirty Dancing.  The channel features numerous workout styles including yoga, boot camp, Pilates, cardio, strength and complete workout systems.

The first original show to launch on Lionsgate BeFit, which can be accessed at http://www.youtube.com/BeFit, was BeFit in 90. A new revolutionary program, BeFit in 90 is a hard-core 90-day workout system designed to deliver results fast and includes a new playlist for each day. Currently in its first season, two additional seasons will follow later this year. The program is hosted by two certified fitness trainers; Samantha Clayton, an Olympic track star from the United Kingdom who is also the wife of baseball all-star Royce Clayton and mother of four (including triplets), and Garret Amerine, a war hero who rebounded from injury in Iraq to become a leader in the campaign to get and stay fit.

"When YouTube told us it was making a bold step into original programming with a wide array of the most talented and innovative content creators in the world, we didn't hesitate to come on board," said Kajsa Vikman, SVP of Marketing and General Manager of Fitness.  "We knew that our relationships with the biggest and most talented names and brands in fitness along with our extensive DVD library could help us deliver the premiere fitness destination for millions of people all over the world. BeFit in 90 is just the beginning of the high quality programming we plan to deliver."

Three months after its January 2012 launch, Lionsgate BeFit is already preparing to expand its slate of original content to include BeFit Club Hip Hop, a hip hop dance fitness series, featuring the latest moves from the club and hip hop scene in fun to follow routines.  BeFit Club Hip Hop is led by three choreographers; Bryan Tanaka, a lead dancer and performer with some of the music industry's biggest names such as Beyonce, Rihanna and Lady Gaga as well as Dejan Tubic & Janelle Ginestra, two social media favorites with a combined total of 50 million views on YouTube who are renowned for their choreography and fierce moves.

Another show set to premiere targets baby boomers and older, Jane Fonda Prime Time Health, featuring the Academy Award® winner and fitness icon sharing her advice – addressing such topics as workout routines, stretching, strengthening and toning as well as healthy eating habits, crucial vitamin intake and subjects to keep one more focused and happy.  Additional original new programming is in development and will continue to launch throughout the year.

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. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of primetime cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 15 shows on more than 10 networks spanning its primetime production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as the multiple Emmy Award-winning "Mad Men," "Weeds" and "Nurse Jackie," along with the powerful drama "Boss" and the syndication successes "Tyler Perry's House of Payne," its spinoff "Meet the Browns," "For Better Or Worse," "The Wendy Williams Show" "Are We There Yet?" and the upcoming "Anger Management."

Its feature film business has been fueled by such recent successes as the blockbuster first installment of "The Hunger Games" franchise, which  has already grossed more than half a billion dollars at the worldwide box office, "The Expendables," "The Lincoln Lawyer,"  "Cabin In The Woods," "Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family" and "Margin Call." With the January 2012 acquisition of Summit Entertainment, the Company now has the two leading young adult franchises - the blockbuster "Twilight Saga," which has grossed more than $2.5 billion at the worldwide box office, and "The Hunger Games." Recent Summit hits include "Red," "Letters to Juliet," "Knowing," the "Step Up" franchise and the Academy Award-winning Best Picture, "The Hurt Locker."

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 13,000 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:

For Lionsgate
Jennifer Sandler
310.255.4072
jsandler@lionsgate.com

For Lionsgate corporate inquiries:
Peter D. Wilkes
310-255-3726
pwilkes@lionsgate.com

SOURCE Lionsgate