Universal Studios, Cinedigm to Partner in Home Entertainment Market

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Wed, 06/05/2013 - 11:48 -- Nick Dager

Cinedigm and Universal Studios Home Entertainment have entered into a multi-year agreement whereby Universal will provide comprehensive supply-chain services across North America for Cinedigm’s growing DVD and Blu-ray library of independent films, documentaries, TV programs and other content, the two companies announced today.  Cinedigm’s existing sales force will continue selling directly to customers.

The arrangement encompasses Cinedigm’s library of over 5,000 titles, which includes award-winning documentaries from Docurama Films, independent films from Flatiron Film Company and acclaimed independent films and festival picks through partnerships with the Sundance Institute and Tribeca Film. Cinedigm also distributes many award-winning and Oscar-nominated films including The Invisible War, Hell and Back Again, Gasland, Waste Land and Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory.

Additionally, Cinedigm has aggressively entered the independent film business in the last year with upcoming and recent multi-platform releases including Craig Zisk’s The English Teacher,Jared Moshe’s Dead Man’s Burden, Dante Ariola’s Arthur Newman, Geoffrey Fletcher’s Violet & Daisy, Malika Zouhali-Worrall and Katherine Fairfax Wright’s Call Me Kuchu, Jimmy Loweree’s Absence, and Shaul Schwarz’s Narco Cultura.

“Having worked with Craig Kornblau at both Disney and Universal, I’m thrilled to be working with him and the entire Universal Studios Home Entertainment team again,” said Chris McGurk, chairman of the board and CEO, Cinedigm. “With Universal by our side, we look forward to rapidly expanding our home entertainment business and are certain that more opportunities to work together will develop as this partnership evolves.”

“Cinedigm is an excellent complement to our evolving portfolio of distribution partners," said Craig Kornblau, president, Universal Studios Home Entertainment. “Chris and his team have created an innovative, entrepreneurial and fast-growing company with a substantial film and television library, which, paired with Universal’s formidable home entertainment distribution structure, effectively positions our companies for a long and prosperous collaboration."

Bob Fiorella, chief strategy officer of Cinedigm, negotiated the agreement on Cinedigm’s behalf.