Lionsgate to Distribute Discovery Programming Across Packaged Media Platforms

Lionsgate  and Discovery Communications have entered an exclusive long-term agreement for Lionsgate to distribute programming from Discovery’s renowned network portfolio across packaged media platforms in the United States. The agreement announced today encompasses DVD and Blu-ray distribution of Discovery’s vast portfolio of series and specials spanning its network brands, including Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet and Investigation Discovery.

The first release under the agreement will be the February 23, 2024 Blu-ray and DVD release of Racing Extinction, the landmark documentary which had its worldwide premiere yesterday on Discovery Channel in more than 220 markets. The film, directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Louie Psihoyos (The Cove), tells the story of a team of artists and activists on an undercover operation to expose the hidden world of endangered species and the race to protect them against mass extinction. Spanning the globe to infiltrate the world’s most dangerous black markets and using high tech tactics to document the link between carbon emissions and species extinction, Racing Extinction reveals stunning, never-before seen images that truly change the way we see the world.

In addition to Lionsgate’s own film and television pipelines and the Discovery Communications content announced today, the Company’s home entertainment business distributes content from other leading third-party suppliers including STUDIOCANAL, Miramax, A24 and Roadside Attractions.

The agreement described today extends the strategic relationship between the two companies announced last month, under which Discovery Communications agreed to purchase five million common shares of Lionsgate. Liberty Global also purchased five million common shares, resulting in each company having an approximately 3.4% shareholding of Lionsgate’s current outstanding shares. Discovery Communications President and CEO David Zaslav and Liberty Global President and CEO Mike Fries also were named to the Lionsgate Board of Directors.