MGM to launch pic channel in Israel
B'caster Tel-Ad to partner with Lion, use film library
To launch in May, the venture will rely on the Hollywood major's vast feature film library, including classics from Woody Allen, the "Rocky" and "Pink Panther" franchises as well as pics like "Rain Man" and "Silence of the Lambs."
The deal was struck with Israel's Tel-Ad, the No. 2 commercial broadcaster in the territory.
The channel will be the 10th in foreign markets in which MGM holds an equity stake.
"The combination of the recognizability and appeal of the MGM brand and the breadth and quality of its library with Tel-Ad's demonstrated distribution and programming strengths should result in a first-rate service," MGM worldwide TV distribution president Jim Griffiths said.
