Major independent studio Lionsgate is venturing into television syndication with the acquisition of TV distributor Debmar-Mercury LLC, which owns rights to Comedy Central’s hit animated series South Park. Debmar-Mercury principals Mort Marcus will contunue to run the company as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lionsgate.
The purchase also puts Lionsgate in possession of syndication rights its own TV drama series The Dead Zone, as well as Sci-Fi Channel’s Farscape series, produced by Hallmark Ent. and the Jim Henson Co. Debmar-Mercury has also been shopping House Of Payne, a new series from comedian Tyler Perry, whose successful features Diary Of A Mad Black Woman and Madea’s Family Reunion were released theatrically by Lionsgate.
Last October, Lionsgate began self-distribution of its library through the acquisition of UK-based distributor Redbus, which is now Lionsgate U.K. The Debmar-Mercury acquisition will afford the company an additional level of independence as it syndicates its own television programming and feature film packages while creating a new television distribution revenue stream from third-party franchise properties. Lionsgate’s 2007 production slate includes nine prime time television series.
Leave a Reply