By Ray Pride Pride@moviecitynews.com

Al Jazeera Offshoot beIN Media Group Acquires Miramax Assets

Posted Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016 - Comments Off on Al Jazeera Offshoot beIN Media Group Acquires Miramax Assets
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Acquisition confirms beIN MEDIA GROUP’s position as one of the fastest growing global media and entertainment companies

DOHA / LOS ANGELES, March 2, 2016 – beIN MEDIA GROUP (“beIN MEDIA”) announced today that it has acquired 100% of MIRAMAX®, one of the most distinguished and recognizable brands in entertainment and synonymous with award-winning and original content.

 Selling shareholders include Qatar Investment Authority (“QIA”) and Colony Capital.

In 2016, MIRAMAX® will invest in and co-distribute several upcoming feature films including BAD SANTA 2, BRIDGET JONES’S BABY, SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU, and THE 9TH LIFE OF LOUIS DRAX, as well as the television show “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series” heading into its third season. Last year MIRAMAX’s slate included the critically acclaimed MR. HOLMES, one of the year’s most successful independent films, and the comedy hit THE WEDDING RINGER.

Additionally, MIRAMAX® continues to thrive with its library, which holds over 700 titles that collectively have garnered 278 Academy Award® nominations and 68 Oscars®, including Best Picture winners THE ENGLISH PATIENT, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, CHICAGO and NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN.

Commenting on the transaction, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of beIN MEDIA GROUP, said: “We are extremely excited to have achieved this key milestone within our strategy. MIRAMAX® is a successful film and television company, providing a strong and recognizable brand, a unique library and industry expertise that complement beIN MEDIA GROUP’s plans to grow across the entertainment industry and develop new content production. As part of beIN MEDIA GROUP, we will support MIRAMAX® in continuing to build this exciting platform. We very much look forward to working with the MIRAMAX® team.”

Thomas J. Barrack, Jr., founder of Colony Capital, said: “MIRAMAX® is one of the most iconic film brands in the world, housing a collection of the most celebrated and valued content libraries and management teams in Hollywood. In 2010, we were given the opportunity to shepherd the creative genius of the Weinsteins and Disney into the 21st century and share their mastery with the world by expanding distribution on a global basis through theatrical, digital and online providers. By riding the secular wave into online streaming, we successfully returned our partners’ capital many times over and safeguarded the passion, dedication and hard work of the library’s true artistic masters. Colony has done its job in repositioning the company to independent prominence and profitability as not only a library but a renowned producer of independent film and television. Our sale to beIN will provide not only stewardship for these irreplaceable films but a best of class strategic owner focused on expansion of production and the betterment of theMIRAMAX® brand. We are fortunate to have found Nasser Al-Khelaifi and BeIN Media Group as the best of global class curator for the purpose of MIRAMAX’s growth and continued legacy.”

Steve Schoch, CEO of MIRAMAX® said: “This is an exciting time in the evolution of our company, and we are thrilled to be a part of beIN MEDIA GROUP. MIRAMAX’s growing 2016 slate is a testament to the incredible work of the team thus far to build on the proud MIRAMAX® legacy. In concert with beIN leadership, we look forward to further expanding our film and television output, broadening our distribution capabilities and fortifying our position as the premiere independent studio brand.”

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About beIN MEDIA GROUP LLC

beIN MEDIA GROUP is a leading global media company. It includes the beIN Sports network which provides exclusive access to prime sport competitions. It operates as well the beIN Movies channels, offering a complete spectrum of entertainment, and it is also involved in pay-tv distribution.

beIN MEDIA GROUP is present in France, Spain, USA, Canada, Indonesia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand, Australia and in 24 countries of MENA.

For more information about beIN MEDIA GROUP, please  visit www.beinmediagroup.com

About MIRAMAX®

MIRAMAX® is a global film and television studio best known for its award-winning and original content. New projects include both film and television, among them Bad Santa 2 starring Billy Bob Thornton, who reprises his Golden Globe nominated role as Willie Soke, and Oscar®, Golden Globe and Emmy winner Kathy Bates, with Broad Green Pictures co-producing/co-financing and handling U.S. theatrical; Bridget Jones’s Baby from Working Title for Universal Pictures, MIRAMAX® and StudioCanal, with Oscar® winners Renée Zellweger and Colin Firth reprising their roles in the third installment of the Bridget Jones film series; Southside With You, inspired by the first date of Barack and Michelle Obama, starring Parker Sawyers and Tika Sumpter, with MIRAMAX® and Roadside Attractions partnering on the U.S. release; and The 9th Life of Louis Drax starring Jamie Dornan, Aaron Paul and Sarah Gadon; as well as Robert Rodriguez’s “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series,” heading into its third season in the U.S. on El Rey Network.

In 2015, MIRAMAX® released the Kevin Hart hit comedy The Wedding Ringer with Sony-Screen Gems; and together with Roadside Attractions, one of the year’s most successful independent hits, the critically acclaimed Mr. Holmes, directed by Academy Award® winner Bill Condon and starring Academy Award® nominees Sir Ian McKellen and Laura Linney.

Collectively, MIRAMAX’s unrivaled library of more than 700 titles has received 278 Academy Award® nominations and 68 Oscars®, earning most notably four Best Picture awards for The English Patient, Shakespeare in Love, Chicagoand No Country for Old Men. More iconic titles from the library include critically acclaimed and commercial hits alike, such as Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting, Bridget Jones’s Diary, the Scream film franchise, Kill Bill Vol. 1&2,and The Aviator.

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