Lionsgate Names Peter Iacono Managing Director International Television

SANTA MONICA, Calif., and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LIONSGATE® (NYSE: LGF), the leading next generation studio, has named media industry veteran Peter Iacono as managing director, international television, it was announced today by Kevin Beggs, president of Lionsgate television programming & production.  He will be responsible for oversight of all international distribution, sales and marketing, and the burgeoning third party acquisitions business for the Lionsgate international television group's comprehensive slate of top-rated and critically-acclaimed entertainment programming, which includes such hit series as "Mad Men", "Weeds", "Crash" and "Paris Hilton's My New BFF" along with "Blue Mountain State," which debuts on Spike TV this week.  He will also oversee international format sales and production.  Mr. Iacono is based in Los Angeles and his appointment is effective immediately.

"The breadth and depth of Peter's track record makes him the right executive to orchestrate Lionsgate's activities in the international marketplace," said Beggs.  "We look forward to utilizing his keen understanding of the global production and broadcasting community to help further our overall corporate goals."

Prior to joining Lionsgate, Mr. Iacono served as president and managing director of ITV Global Entertainment, a post he accepted in January 2008.  Mr. Iacono formed ITV Global Entertainment - one of the world's leading international TV distribution, home-entertainment, international networks and consumer products companies – orchestrating the merger of the businesses of Granada International and Granada Ventures.  While there he was responsible for the company's representation of a portfolio from ITV Studios and leading independent producers that included over 40,000 hours of original and format programming, ranging from "Hell's Kitchen" and "Coronation Street" to "Prime Suspect" and "The Prisoner".

Prior to his ITV post, Mr. Iacono spent 12 years overseeing Sony Pictures Television International's global distribution and most recently served as head of production for Sony Pictures Features International.  At Sony Pictures Television International, Iacono expanded the company's distribution footprint opening offices around the world, oversaw the distribution of both Sony's and MGM's catalogues, and shepherded the growth of the divisions distribution revenues from a starting point of several hundred million to consistently over $1 billion annually.   

Mr. Iacono also spearheaded Sony's expansion into international networks, acquiring interests in pay television networks in Latin America, Asia, Australia, and Central Europe as well as guiding the launch of basic television networks in Asia, Latin America, and Europe.     

While at Sony Pictures Features International, Mr. Iacono capitalized upon Sony's early success with films such as CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON to launch production operations in India, Russia, and Mexico.

Before joining Sony Pictures, Mr. Iacono co-managed the Strategic Planning Group at Warner Bros. formulating the launch of The WB and developing the roll-out of The Warner Stores.   He began his career in media at The Walt Disney Company as a senior financial analyst in domestic television distribution.  

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 prime time 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 "Blue Mountain State" and the syndication successes "Tyler Perry's House Of Payne", its spinoff "Meet The Browns" and "The Wendy Williams Show".  Its feature film business has generated more than $400 million at the North American box office in the past year, including the recent critically-acclaimed hit PRECIOUS, which has garnered $45 million at the North American box office and earned three Golden Globe nominations, and BROTHERS, which earned two Golden Globe nods.   The Company's home entertainment business has grown to more than 7% market share and is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD revenue conversion rate.  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.

www.lionsgate.com

SOURCE Lionsgate