TORONTO – Sony Pictures Television Networks announced today that Canadian broadcaster Hollywood Suite will be the exclusive home of Sony Movie Channel and AXN Movies in Canada.
The two channels will launch September 4, 2012 as part of Hollywood Suite’s four HD movie channels, two of which will be rebranded. Hollywood Festival will re-launch as Sony Movie Channel and Hollywood Storm will re-launch as AXN Movies.
“Sony Movie Channel is Sony Pictures Television’s movie network created specifically for the Hollywood movie fan, with access to Sony Pictures’ vast feature film library, while AXN Movies delivers high octane, edge-of-your-seat movies,” reads the press release.
Sony Movie Channel will feature such award-winning films as The Big Chill, Tootsie, Lawrence Of Arabia, To Sir With Love and The Graduate. AXN Movies (the first launch of the brand outside of Asia) will feature films such as Taxi Driver, Ghostbusters, Run Lola Run, On The Waterfront, The Karate Kid and Snatch.
“We are delighted to be partnering with Hollywood Suite on our first branded channels to launch in Canada,” said Andy Kaplan, president of worldwide networks at Sony Pictures Television in the release. “We continue to see strong demand for HD movies presented without commercial interruption, and these channels will bring our first-rate catalogue of feature films directly to viewers.”
“We are proud to partner with Sony Pictures Television Networks to bring these strong brands to Canada,” added David Kines, president of Hollywood Suite. “Together with Warner Films and MGM Channel, our channels bring customers an unsurpassed experience of high-quality Hollywood blockbuster movies in stunning HD.”
Building on successful launches in the U.S. and U.K., Sony Movie Channel has access to more than 3,500 Sony Pictures films, which collectively have received 184 Academy Awards including 12 for Best Picture. Among Sony Pictures’ string of blockbuster films are two of this summer’s most hotly-anticipated franchises, The Amazing Spider-Man and Men in Black III. Last year, the studio's successful slate of films generated more than $3 billion in worldwide box office – a milestone accomplished by Sony Pictures three times in its history.
The first all-movie network from AXN, the global leader in hard-hitting drama, AXN Movies showcases the ultimate action films with the best in epic adventure – uncut, uncensored, and unstoppable.
Already the exclusive home of Warner Films and MGM Channel in Canada, Hollywood Suite broadcasts four channels with over 450 commercial-free HD movies per month, uncut and unedited, and offers over 250 different movies per month on demand, on-line and on mobile. Hollywood Suite is available on Bell Satellite, Bell Fibe, Telus, EastLink, SaskTel, MTS, Westman Communications, Access Communications and Northwestel.
