Luxembourg, 6 May 2010 - RTL Group, the leading European entertainment network, announces its interim management statement to 6 May 2010.

Financial highlights

_____________Regulated information. The figures presented in the interim management statement are unaudited.¹ Adjusted for RTL Klub in Hungary, other minor scope changes and at constant exchange rates² EBITA represents earnings before interest and income tax expense excluding impairment of goodwill and disposal groups, amortisation and impairment of fair value adjustments on acquisitions and gain or loss from sale of subsidiaries, joint ventures and other investments³ Primarily Alpha Media Group in Greece and the digital television channels in the UK 

Compared to a weak first quarter in 2009, most of the Western European TV advertising markets recorded robust growth during the first quarter 2010, with Germany, France and the UK showing the best development. In Germany, RTL Group’s family of channels clearly outperformed the market in the reporting period. Against this background, reported Group revenue increased significantly by 10.1 per cent to EUR 1,308 million (Q1/2009: EUR 1,188 million).

Thanks to improved results from all broadcasting activities – and Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland in particular - reported Group EBITA more than doubled (+126.4 per cent) to EUR 197 million (Q1/2009: EUR 87 million), even surpassing the first-quarter results of 2008 (EUR 188 million). This translated to a reported EBITA margin of 15.1 per cent (Q1/2009: 7.3 per cent).

On 1 February 2010, Groupe M6 announced the exercise of its put option to sell its 5.1 per cent stake in Canal Plus France to Vivendi. This led to the payment of the minimum guaranteed amount of EUR 384 million by Vivendi to Groupe M6 on 22 February 2010.

The net cash position of RTL Group as of 31 March 2010 was EUR 1,286 million (31 March 2009: EUR 741 million). Since then, the dividend payment, amounting to EUR 541 million, was made on 29 April 2010.

Outlook: Given the positive business development in the first months of 2010, RTL Group expects to improve on last year’s results. However, developments on the various advertising markets can only be predicted to a very limited degree. This has to do partly with the strong fourth quarter of 2009 - at the moment, no one can tell what the fourth quarter will look like this year, given the low visibility and economic environment.

Operational highlights

• The combined audience share of Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland in the key 14 to 49 target group increased to 35.3 per cent (Q1/2009: 34.2 per cent) – a new record – putting it 5.7 percentage points ahead of the ProSiebenSat1 family. This positive development was driven by RTL Television which reached an audience share of 18.0 per cent among young viewers (Q1/2009: 16.9 per cent)
• RTL Group’s market-leading flagship channels in the Netherlands (RTL 4) and Belgium (RTL-TVI) also reported higher audience shares compared to Q1/2009
• In France, Groupe M6’s main digital channel, W9, again reports strong growth, both in terms of advertising revenue and audience share, which increased to 3.6 per cent in the main commercial target group of housewives aged under 50 (Q1/2009: 3.0 per cent)
• Alpha TV in Greece continued its positive ratings development in the first quarter of 2010: the channel’s all-day audience share among viewers aged 15 to 44 increased to 14.3 per cent (Q1/2009: 13.1 per cent)
• In March, FremantleMedia acquired the remaining 25 per cent of the production company Blu, the market leader in Denmark and Sweden, taking FremantleMedia’s ownership to 100 per cent; in April, FremantleMedia took over 100 per cent of the Netherlands-based independent production company Four One Media 

RTL Group, the leading European entertainment network, announces its audited results for the year ended 31 December 2008.

Highlights

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¹ Adjusted for scope changes and at constant exchange rates
² EBITA represents earnings before interest and income tax expense excluding impairment of goodwill, disposal groups and amortisation and impairment of fair value adjustments on acquisitions and gain or loss from sale of subsidiaries, joint ventures and other investments
³ Primarily launch costs of digital television channels in France, Germany and the UK
⁴ Adjusted earnings per share represents the net profit for the period adjusted for impairment of goodwill, disposal groups and amortisation of fair value adjustments on acquisitions and gain or loss from sale of subsidiaries, joint ventures and other investments, net of income tax expense and one-off tax effects

RTL Group increases revenue and EBITA, for the seventh consecutive year

• Reported EBITA of EUR 916 million, up 2.0 per cent, despite a tougher economic climate

• Reported Group revenue up 1.2 per cent to EUR 5,774 million; underlying revenue, at constant exchange rates, up 2.6 per cent

• Reported EBITA margin improved to 15.9 per cent

• Net profit attributable to RTL Group shareholders down to EUR 194 million (2007: EUR 563 million), mainly due to an impairment of goodwill of the UK TV activities amounting to EUR 337 million

• Net cash from operating activities of EUR 1,065 million resulting in an operating cash conversion of 114 per cent

• Proposed ordinary dividend for 2008 up to EUR 1.40, from EUR 1.30 for 2007; once again proposed extraordinary dividend of EUR 2.10 for 2008 (EUR 3.70 for 2007)

• Increasingly challenging advertising conditions across Europe

Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland and FremantleMedia with record EBITA

• Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland with its best year ever; EBITA up 25.6 per cent;
  leading position on the German TV advertising market significantly strengthened

• FremantleMedia reports growing revenue and EBITA figures for the fifth consecutive year, driven by its slate of international prime time hit formats; EBITA up 18.3 per cent

• EBITA of Groupe M6 in France impacted by a major programme investment for the European football championship 2008; free DTT channel W9 continued its rapid audience and revenue growth and generated positive EBITA for the first time

• RTL Nederland implemented a restructuring programme at the end of 2008;
  EBITA down 17.6 per cent also due to these one-time restructuring charges

Selective acquisitions and launches to strengthen core business activities

• Acquisition of a 66.6 per cent majority shareholding in Alpha Media Group, Greece’s number four broadcasting company

• RTL Group builds up comprehensive catch-up TV services in Germany (RTLnow.de), France (M6replay.fr), the Netherlands (RTLgemist.nl) and in the UK (Demand.Five.tv)

• Investments to strengthen RTL Group’s internet portfolio

  • Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland acquired the fast-growing social network Wer-kennt-wen.de

  • Groupe M6 acquired a 100 per cent stake in the Cyréalis group

• Launch of exclusive mobile TV channel RTL 24 in the Netherlands

• Relaunch of marketing agency UFA Sports to round off RTL Group’s portfolio and to further diversify revenue streams

“A position of strength”

Gerhard Zeiler, Chief Executive Officer of RTL Group, said:

“In spite of increasingly difficult advertising markets in Europe, in 2008 RTL Group increased its revenue and operating result for the seventh year running. The company has a broad-based, secure setup, and is active in many countries and business areas. In particular, strong performances at Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland and FremantleMedia contributed to the increase in profits.

Based on the 2008 results and the cash position, we propose a total dividend of EUR 3.50 per share - consisting of an ordinary dividend of EUR 1.40 and an extraordinary dividend of EUR 2.10.

This position of strength is the result of our strategy, which is based on strict investment criteria. In 2008, we significantly stepped up our online activities with targeted acquisitions and investments. After our takeover of the Alpha Media Group in Greece, we now have 45 TV channels in 11 European countries.

Operating in a very challenging time, we are experiencing a substantial slowdown in advertising bookings. We will respond to this by focusing on our core business, and by reviewing all costs and structures. This will result in a significantly lower cost base in all of our operations.

Given the current state of the advertising markets, and the very short-term bookings cycle, it is impossible to give reliable full-year guidance. But it has to be expected that the profitability level will be down compared to 2008.”

About RTL Group
RTL Group is the leading European entertainment network, with interests in 45 television channels and 32 radio stations in 11 countries and content production throughout the world. The television portfolio of Europe’s largest broadcaster includes RTL Television in Germany, M6 in France, Five in the UK, the RTL channels in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Croatia and Hungary, Alpha TV in Greece, Ren TV in Russia and Antena 3 in Spain. RTL Group’s flagship radio station is RTL in France, and it also owns or has interests in other stations in France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece, Spain and Luxembourg. RTL Group’s content production arm, FremantleMedia, is one of the largest international producers outside the US. Each year, it produces 10,000 hours of programming across 57 countries.

Apple(R) announced on January 6th several changes to the iTunes(R) Store (http://www.itunes.com). Beginning today, all four major music labels — Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, Warner Music Group and EMI, along with thousands of independent labels, are now offering their music in iTunes Plus, Apple\’s DRM-free format with higher-quality 256 kbps AAC encoding for audio quality virtually indistinguishable from the original recordings. iTunes customers can also choose to download their favorite songs from the world\’s largest music catalog directly onto their iPhone(TM) 3G over their 3G network just as they do with Wi-Fi today, for the same price as downloading to their computer. And beginning in April, based on what the music labels charge Apple, songs on iTunes will be available at one of three price points: 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29, with most albums still priced at $9.99.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer our iTunes customers DRM-free iTunes Plus songs in high quality audio and our iPhone 3G customers the ability to download music from iTunes anytime, anywhere over their 3G network at the same price as downloading to your computer or via Wi-Fi,” said Steve Jobs, Apple\’s CEO. “And in April, based on what the music labels charge Apple, songs on iTunes will be available at one of three price points — 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29 — with many more songs priced at 69 cents than $1.29.”

iTunes offers customers a simple, one-click option to easily upgrade their entire library of previously purchased songs to the higher quality DRM-free iTunes Plus format for just 30 cents per song or 30 percent of the album price. The iTunes Store will begin offering eight million of its 10 million songs in Apple\’s DRM-free format, iTunes Plus, today with the remaining two million songs offered in iTunes Plus by the end of March.

iPhone 3G users can now preview and purchase the entire iTunes Store music catalog on their iPhone 3G over their 3G network, just as they do with Wi-Fi today, for the same price and in the same high quality format. Songs purchased on an iPhone will automatically sync to a user\’s computer the next time they sync their iPhone.

The iTunes Store is the world\’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 10 million songs, over 30,000 TV episodes and over 2,500 films including over 600 in stunning high definition video. With Apple\’s legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as iTunes Movie Rentals, integrated podcasting support, the ability to turn previously purchased tracks into complete albums at a reduced price, and seamless integration with iPod(R) and iPhone, the iTunes Store is the best way for Mac(R) and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music and video online.

Germany and France are planning to launch a $376,000 (Euros 300,000) co-development fund from next year as part of their existing bilateral mini co-production agreement.

The news was announced at this year’s Franco-German Film Rendez-Vous in Hamburg. 300 German and French producers, distributors and film funders attended the three-day annual event which alternates between France and Germany.

Christine Berg of the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) explained that the fund should promote the “cultural and economical potential for the German and French market.”

Individual funding will be awarded up to $63,000 (Euros 50,000) and the fund would be open to a producer’s first or second feature film.

Also speaking at the event, Olivier Wotling of France’s CNC suggested that the initiative would benefit new producers and enable them to build up a network. “It is very important that one can start very early with cooperation. This dimension must be supported,” Wotling said.

The new fund would be part of the “mini-traité” agreement which was signed by the CNC and Germany’s German Federal Film Board (FFA) in May 2001 and has supported 50 Franco-German co-productions.

These include Tom Tykwer’s Perfume - The Story of a Murderer, Werner Schroeter’s Deux, Claire Denis’ 35 Rhums, and Julie Delpy’s The Countess.

It was revealed that in 2007 Germany became the second most important co-production partner for France after Belgium.

Germany participated in 10 French majority co-productions compared to 18 by Belgian companies. In 2006, Germany had been third place with involvement in six French productions behind Italy (nine) and Belgium (11).

Berg reported that a third of the 30 international co-productions supported by the DFFF so far this year are German-French co-productions with total production costs of $158m (Euros 126m), compared to $100m (Euros 80m) for the 12 German-French co-productions in 2007.

Source: Screen Daily, Martin Blaney

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) will be the first Hollywood studio to distribute high-definition Blu-ray Disc™ in the Chinese market, it was announced today by T Paul Miller, SPHE’s Senior Vice President, International and Kenny Ling, General Manager of Excel Media (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, SPHE’s local distribution partner.

“We’re thrilled to be the first to offer the high-quality HD product that discerning Chinese customers demand and deserve,” said Miller.

An initial slate of 30 Blu-ray Disc titles will coincide with Sony Electronics’ introduction of the popular BDP-S350 model Blu-ray player to the Chinese market on 21 November 2008, and will include both new releases and popular favorites.

Ling commented, “We are very happy to be the first video distriburtor releasing legitimate Blu-ray Disc in China. We believe that transforming the home entertainment experience to high definition is an essential trend. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment plays a big role in this video format transformation and Excel Media will continue to release more high quality legitimate Blu-ray Disc available to consumers in China.”

Titles available at launch include Hancock, Kung Fu Hustle, Open Season, the Spider-Man trilogy, xXx, S.W.A.T., Vertical Limit, Men in Black, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The Water Horse, Peter Pan, Erin Brockovich, In The Line of Fire, Tears of the Sun, The Patriot, Into the Blue, Hitch, Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc, Are We Done Yet?, The Pursuit of Happyness, Mirror Mask, RV, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Rundown, 50 First Dates, and Big Fish.

Consumers will be able to purchase many of these titles at participating retailers including Sony Style and Joyo.com, for around 205 RMB.

Initial shipments will be manufactured and imported from outside China, with plans to begin local production of Blu-ray Discs within the year.

About Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.

RTL Group, the leading European entertainment network, announced on November 6 its interim management statement to 30 September 2008. Financial highlights

_____________
The figures presented in the interim management statement are unaudited

Bucking a tougher economic climate, RTL Group generated sound results in the period January to September 2008: operating profit (EBITA) increased slightly to EUR 577 million (2007: EUR 568 million). Particularly strong performances from Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland and FremantleMedia compensated for significant negative effects such as the slowdown in several advertising markets, the major programme investment for the European football championship 2008 at Groupe M6 in France and restructuring charges at RTL Nederland.

Revenue in the reporting period was stable at EUR 4,052 million (2007: EUR 4,039 million). Stripping out the effects of the portfolio changes, underlying revenue at constant exchange rates came to EUR 4,095 million. The net cash position at 30 September 2008 amounted to EUR 755 million (30 June 2008: EUR 588 million) with an operating cash conversion of 125 per cent (2007: 122 per cent).

TV advertising market conditions were very mixed in the reporting period with Germany and the Netherlands reporting positive growth. Elsewhere, net TV advertising markets were down year-on-year with Spain and France reporting the most severe decline. RTL Group�s operations continued to outperform the markets in many countries, most notably in Germany and France (TV and radio).

The outlook for the full year 2008 remains unchanged: despite the current economic climate and continued low visibility on the advertising markets, RTL Group remains cautiously optimistic about achieving its financial targets in 2008.

Operational highlights

• In September 2008 RTL Group announced the acquisition of a 66.6 per cent majority shareholding in Alpha Media Group, Greek�s No. 3 broadcasting company; the transaction is expected to close in November
• Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland remains clearly ahead of its main commercial competitor ProSiebenSat1 - in terms of both audience share in the 14-49 target group and advertising market share; good start into the new season 2008/09
• Combined total audience share of Groupe M6�s channels were up in the reporting period despite accelerated audience fragmentation in France; the family of channels strategy has paid off
• FremantleMedia�s strong performance continues to be driven by international prime time hit formats such as Idols, Got Talent, Hole in the Wall and The X Factor which had its strongest season debut ever in the UK; FremantleMedia acquired a 19.99 per cent equity stake in Beyond International, one of Australia�s leading television and film producers
• At the end of September, RTL Nederland announced a new organisational structure to focus on TV, radio and new media; the unit plans to outsource the technical support services of its Broadcast Operations division
• The social network Wer-kennt-wen.de is on a clear growth path: with more than 4.6 million registered users and 3.63 billion page impressions per month it is ranked No. 3 in the official German online ranking (IVW)

About RTL Group
RTL Group is the leading European entertainment network, with interests in 43 television channels and 31 radio stations in ten countries and content production throughout the world. The television portfolio of Europe�s largest broadcaster includes RTL Television in Germany, M6 in France, Five in the UK, the RTL channels in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Croatia and Hungary, Ren TV in Russia and Antena 3 in Spain. RTL Group�s flagship radio station is RTL in France, and it also owns or has interests in other stations in France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Luxembourg. RTL Group’s content production arm, FremantleMedia, is one of the largest international producers outside the US. Each year, it produces more than 10,000 hours of programming across 55 countries.

Pinewood has completed a deal with Christie Digital to upgrade its digital projection equipment across its facilities, with the ability to project HD pictures through DLP projectors in the Powell, Pressberger and Icon Theatres at Pinewood and in Theatres 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 at Shepperton.

Christie is the preeminent manufacturer producer of digital cinema projectors in the world, with more projectors in cinemas in Europe and the USA than any of its competitors. As a result of this long term strategic upgrade, the Pinewood Group will be able to offer consistency of the highest quality projectors (and therefore pictures) across all its facilities. Through their relationship with Christie, Pinewood has the opportunity to build on its expertise in film projection within its prestigious Theatre 7 preview facility and become experts in the art of digital projection.

Fastweb, Italy’s second-largest fixed telecommunications provider, is launching Warner TV, an exciting new entertainment channel from Warner Bros. International Television Distribution (WBITD). The non-exclusive new Warner TV channel is a branded subscription video on-demand channel that will be available to FastwebTV subscribers from the 8th September. This is WBITD’s first launch of its Warner TV branded service in Italy.FastwebTV subscribers will be able to enjoy a wide range of award-winning Warner Bros. television series, movies and cartoons including:

· Many episodes on-demand per year of the world’s most popular TV series including ER, The O.C., Friends, Nip/Tuck, La Femme Nikita, Smallville, Cold Case and classic series such as V (The Visitors) and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.
· Kids’ entertainment with cartoon features such as Looney Tunes: Back in Action, Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost and Tom & Jerry: The Magic Ring, as well as cartoon series such as Steven Spielberg Presents Pinky and the Brain and Batman: The Animated Series.
· 150 Warner Bros. movies across all genres, including The Matrix Reloaded and all-time favourites such as Mad Max, The Goonies, The Shining, Poltergeist and many others included in the FastwebTV package free-of-charge.

“We are so excited to be launching the Warner TV on-demand channel,” said Alessandro Petazzi, Fastweb’s Head of Media & TV. “Since the launch of its IPTV service, Fastweb has been committed to providing customers with fresh and compelling content on an on-demand basis and has signed many agreements with the main local and international content providers. The addition of Warner Bros. content further enriches our portfolio and the launch of a Warner TV branded and managed on-demand channel is in-line with Fastweb’s most recent strategy of blending the benefits of video on demand (”what you want when you want”) with the advantages of traditional channels (editorially managed content, fresh and relevant to specific customer targets, associated with a familiar content brand).”

“Our partnership with Fastweb expands upon our international branded services business and marks the debut of our first such service in Italy,” said Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, President, Warner Bros. International Television. “Warner TV will offer motion picture and television programming that Italian viewers will have the ability to access through Fastweb, providing consumers with the opportunity to view great content from Warner Bros. wherever and whenever they want it.”

The launch of Warner TV on Fastweb in Italy continues WBITD’s strategic expansion into subscription- and advertiser-supported video-on-demand branded services around the world. WBITD has previously launched Warner TV VOD channels with Top Up TV, Tiscali, Virgin Media and BT in the U.K., ProSieben in Germany, USEN Corporation’s GyaO in Japan and Free TV in France, with an additional service planned for later in 2008 in India.

Fastweb was the first company in the world to launch IPTV.FastwebTV viewers have the widest choice of content integrated in a single interactive interface thanks to its hybrid multiplatform digital decoder. Fastweb television allows its viewers to access digital terrestrial TV services, analogue national channels, network-based PVR and catch-up TV, thematic channels from both satellite and analogue platforms, Sky satellite channels, a PPV offer, VoD of thousands of movies, cartoons, documentaries, TV series and music clips, videogames and unique edutainment channels.

Warner Bros. International Television Distribution is one of the world’s largest distributors of feature films, television programs and animation to the international television marketplace (broadcast, pay cable, basic cable, satellite, pay-per-view, video-on-demand, digital platforms, etc.). It licenses some 50,000 hours of programming (including more than 6,000 ýfeatures and 70+ current series), dubbed or subtitled in more than 40 ýlanguages, to telecasters and cablecasters in more than 175 countries.

Astral Media’s (ACM.A/ACM.B) The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment’s (CJR.B/CJR) Movie Central (Western Canada) announced on Sept 22nd the launch of HBO Canada, a channel that will deliver a full slate of HBO’s award-winning, boundary-pushing, genre-defining series, films, comedies and live events. Launching on Thursday, October 30, 2008, HBO Canada is a multiplex channel that will be offered at no additional charge to customers who subscribe to The Movie Network or Movie Central.”HBO is one of the most successful and sought-after entertainment brands in the world and we are thrilled to be expanding upon our long-standing relationship to launch this unique new service,” said John Riley, President, Astral Television Networks. “For years, HBO’s dramatic programming has been available on The Movie Network and Movie Central. But even with all of the HBO titles we offered, Canadians still wanted more. They wanted the comedy series, the live specials, the sporting events and the behind-the-scenes content that went into the HBO viewing experience. In launching HBO Canada we will be in a position to offer Canadians this additional content, together with the current signature series that HBO produces, to create an entertainment and value proposition that promises to set a new standard for premium television viewing in Canada.”

With its launch in October, HBO Canada will be home to new and returning marquee series such as True Blood, Entourage, Big Love, Flight of the Conchords and In Treatment, airing day-and-date with HBO in the U.S. The service will also offer more than 200 hours of library titles and first-run HBO original films, comedy specials, documentaries, live concerts and sporting events which were previously unavailable in Canada, including Real Time with Bill Maher, Def Comedy Jam and Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger. Library titles available on HBO Canada include such series as OZ and Da Ali G Show; original movies Gia, The Late Shift and If These Walls Could Talk; acclaimed miniseries From the Earth to the Moon and Angels in America; and comedy specials from the likes of Dane Cook, Tracey Ullman and Ellen Degeneres. HBO Canada will round out its offering with Canadian films and series including The Movie Network and Movie Central’s award-winning original series such as Durham County and Terminal City.

“We are thrilled that HBO Canada is going to be available to our subscribers this fall,” said Paul Robertson, President, Television, Corus Entertainment. “Canadians see great value in HBO’s distinctive brand and compelling programming and we have responded to this with a channel that offers a full complement of HBO programming that meets our audience’s demand for world-class entertainment – delivered in standard definition, high definition and on demand.”

HBO Canada will include a standard definition and high definition offering. HBO Canada programming will also be offered on demand through The Movie Network OnDemand and Movie Central On Demand where available by service provider.

Astral Media and Corus Entertainment have expanded on the long-standing programming output deal that each has with HBO in order to launch HBO Canada. HBO will not hold an ownership stake in HBO Canada.

“Canadian audiences have a great appreciation for the quality entertainment for which HBO is known,” said Charles Schreger, President of Programming Sales, HBO. “Working with Astral Media’s The Movie Network and Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central to create HBO Canada is a great evolution in our relationship and it is very exciting to be able to deliver a robust inventory of HBO programming under an HBO branded destination.”

The Movie Network is a pay television service available in eastern Canada. With premiere access to Hollywood hit movies, critically acclaimed HBO and Showtime series, and first-rate Canadian programming, this pay-television service presents Canadians with some of the best television entertainment available. The Movie Network service includes 24-hour multiplex channels – M, MExcess, MFun!, MFest and the soon-to-be-launched HBO Canada – which deliver diverse and entertaining programs in an uncut and commercial-free television environment. The Movie Network also offers The Movie Network HD and the soon-to-be-launched HBO Canada HD, two dedicated high-definition channels providing hundreds of titles in HD; and The Movie Network OnDemand, a Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) service, available in select areas across eastern Canada. For more information, please visit http://www.themovienetwork.ca.

The Movie Network is an Astral Media Television Network. Astral Media is a leading Canadian media company, active in specialty and pay television, radio, outdoor advertising and iMedia. Astral Media’s solid and dynamic presence in the country’s major markets rests on its commitment to offer a unique combination of high-quality, targeted media for all its audiences.

Movie Central is a 24-hour-a-day, commercial-free premium pay TV service available to Western Canadians. Exclusive multi-year output agreements with major Hollywood studios ensure that Movie Central is the preferred destination for box office titles. In addition to being the first window, Canadian home to the best of Showtime and the soon-to-be-launched HBO Canada, through its investments, pre-buys and licence fees for Canadian feature films and original series, Movie Central is recognized as a major force in the Canadian independent film and television production industry. The launch of Movie Central On Demand and Movie Central High Definition demonstrates that Movie Central remains committed to being first with innovations that enhance the viewing experience. Visit the Movie Central website at http://www.moviecentral.ca.

Movie Central is owned by Corus Entertainment Inc., a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, advertising and digital audio services, television broadcasting, children’s book publishing and children’s animation. The company’s multimedia entertainment brands include YTV, Treehouse, W Network, Movie Central, Nelvana, Kids Can Press and radio stations including CKNW, CKOI and Q107. Corus creates engaging branded entertainment experiences for its audiences across multiple platforms. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto (CJR.B) and New York (CJR) exchanges. Experience Corus on the web at http://www.corusent.com.

For access to The Movie Network’s media room or Movie Central’s press site, please visit http://tv.astral.com or http://pressroom.corusent.com.

Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., providing two 24-hour pay television services – HBO and Cinemax – to over 40 million U.S. subscribers. The services offer the most popular subscription video on demand products, HBO On Demand and Cinemax On Demand, as well as HBO on Broadband, HD feeds, and multiplex channels. Internationally, HBO’s branded television networks, along with the subscription video on demand products HBO On Demand and HBO Mobile, bring HBO services to over 50 countries. HBO programming is sold into over 150 countries worldwide.

Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) announced on Sept 17th  that its joint venture with China Film Group called Huaso Film/Television Digital Production Company Limited (Huaso) has launched a 24-episode one hour drama series called The Game on China’s state broadcaster CCTV8 on September 22, 2008 at 7:30pm. It’s the first television drama series produced by Huaso following the television movies it has produced for CCTV.

Based on the best-selling novel The Lunatic by Liu Ping, The Game is a suspense-filled series written by Ren Yun in a rare collaboration with script consultants from Hollywood and China. With guidance from Award-winning Chinese writer Li Xiao Ming (A Native of Beijing in New York, Half-way Couple) and Hollywood veteran Gerald Sanoff (Matlock, Diagnosis Murder), Ren Yun crafted a series about love, intrigue, betrayal and the remarkable resiliency of the human spirit. In addition to the unique writing collaboration, the production team was made up of seasoned executives from CCTV and SPTI.

“It has been a remarkable experience working with the team at Huaso and our partner at China Film Group to bring this project to the small screen. By combining top-notch talent from the East and West, I believe we’ve managed to create a very original series with new elements of story-telling for the Chinese audience. We hope the unique story along with the fantastic cast will lead to an auspicious debut on CCTV8,” said Mary Chan, SPTI’s vice president, production, Asia.

The Game is directed by Hong Kong’s Yuen Ying Ming, who has directed numerous highly-acclaimed drama series in Greater China over the past 20 years. Yuen’s celebrated works include The Greed of Man, Looking Back in Anger on TVB; The Legend of Da Qi Hero and The Best Tea House in China.

China International Television Corporation (CITVC), the global distribution agent of programs owned by CCTV, will be distributing The Game within China while SPTI will be distributing the series outside of China both in its original form and as a scripted format.

Synopsis of The Game

The Game is a story about the remarkable resiliency of the human spirit. Zuo Zhao Fung and Zhai Ren Wei are good friends and business colleagues who appear to be as close as brothers. Although they have known each other for years, Zuo Zhao Feng is unaware that Zhai Ren Wei has been carefully planning the systematic demise of Zuo Zhao Feng, Zuo’s father and the company they built. Zhai, however, underestimates Zuo’s determination and perseverance in the face of adversity. With the love and support of Lu Xiao Jie, a former colleague at his father’s company, Zuo is able to start a new company and put his life in order again. The Game’s strong cast includes Yu Xiao Wei (Handsome Men, Pretty Women, So Want to Love), Huang Jue (Everlasting Regret, Love Heaven, I Love You and So Long Farewell), Luo Hai Qiong (So Want to Love, Like Rain and Wind) and Fu Xin Yin (Rain Season In Bangkok, Jade Buddha, Begins With Love).

About Sony Pictures Television International

Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) is the division of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) responsible for all television business outside of the United States. SPTI operates three complementary lines of business: 1) distribution of SPE’s feature films and television programming to television, mobile and digital content delivery 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), the People’s Republic of China, Russia, Spain and the United Kingdom, SPTI currently oversees production in nine regions of the world and is the leader in international television production among all major Hollywood studios. SPTI’s worldwide television networks portfolio is a key strategy in the SPE’s long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with over 50 networks in more than 130 countries reaching almost 400 million households worldwide. SPTI is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

About Huaso Film and Television Digital Production Company Limited (Huaso)

Huaso is a joint-venture company formed by Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) and Hua Long Film Digital Production Co. Ltd., of China Film Group (CFG). This production joint-venture has been approved by the People’s Republic of China’s regulatory bodies - the State Administration of Radio, Film & Television (SARFT) and the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). Huaso is an acronym combining “Hua Long” with “Sony,” with CFG holding a majority interest. Currently Huaso 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.