BEIJING, China. June 24, 2013– MGM Television and Jiaflix Enterprises announced a multi-year licensing agreement that includes new MGM theatrical releases for Transactional Video on Demand (TVOD) and more than 200 classic library films primarily for Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD). Jiaflix/M1905 is an internet-delivered programming service operated in partnership with M1905.com, the official internet subsidiary of China Movie Channel/CCTV6. The announcement was made today by Chris Ottinger, President of International Distribution & Acquisitions for MGM Television and Jiaflix Enterprises principals Sid Ganis, Marc Ganis and Kenneth Huang.
New MGM film releases including the upcoming “RoboCop” with Columbia Pictures and “Hercules” with Paramount Pictures, will become available on the Jiaflix/M1905.com website beginning in 2014 on a TVOD basis. Over 200 MGM classic films including “Midnight Cowboy,” “Dressed to Kill,” and “The Thomas Crown Affair,” will be available to Jiaflix subscribers who can watch these films at their convenience.
“We are thrilled to partner with Jiaflix/M1905, broadening the content offered to their subscribers,” said Ottinger. “MGM’s films appeal to a global audience and we look forward to bringing viewers in China MGM’s stellar new releases and extensive library of beloved theatrical films.”
Ganis said, “This exciting new agreement with MGM is a major step in furthering Jiaflix’s plan to provide the best selection of Chinese and international films to its subscribers in China.”
M1905’s director and Vice President, Longfei Liang, added, “Our website becomes even more attractive to movie fans with the addition of these important MGM titles. Our audience continues to grow as we present great Chinese and western films.”
M1905 is the wholly owned subsidiary of the China Movie Channel, which is under the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) of the People’s Republic of China. China Movie Channel is that country’s largest television buyer of international movies and has agreements with virtually all of the major movie studios. M1905 sub-licenses domestic Chinese films to a number of video web sites in China.
Sid Ganis is a former President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and previously held roles as Vice Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment and President of Paramount Pictures.
Kenneth Huang is a China based entrepreneur and investor. He is active in a number of the important business sectors in China including capital markets, infrastructure construction, sports and entertainment. Mr. Huang is a successful philanthropist and was voted the most popular philanthropist by Sina.com and BQ Magazine in December 2009. Mr. Huang was raised in China and educated in the United States.
Marc Ganis is President and Co-Founder of Jiaflix Enterprises. He is also President and Founder of Sportscorp Ltd., a Chicago based sports business advisory firm. Mr. Ganis has been involved in a number of the most visible and valuable sports business transactions in the U.S. He has been active in China for more than a decade in the capital markets, sports and entertainment sectors.