Haim Saban Enters the North American Distribution Space Actively Acquiring Films Beginning in Cannes
LOS ANGELES – May 6, 2014 – Haim Saban, a worldwide pioneer and leader in the entertainment industry and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Saban Capital Group, Inc. ("SCG"), a private investment firm specializing in the media, entertainment and communications industries, announced the launch of Saban Films today. Saban has made a major capital contribution to this new venture which will look to acquire 8 to 10 high-quality, feature films per year and distribute in North America via a major studio distribution partner, with whom they are currently in talks.
Saban Capital Group’s Haim Saban said; “I have a long-standing and deep affection for independent film and saw an opportunity in the theatrical distribution arena as well as an emerging distribution platform strategy that focuses on cable, satellite, and telco VOD. Film is a natural progression for Saban Capital Group with existing interests already in television, media and brands.”
In addition, Saban has tapped former RLJ Entertainment veteran Bill Bromiley as the President of Saban Films. Bromiley will begin in Cannes - looking to acquire commercial, talent-driven films. The company will look at films in all stages of production – from script to finished projects, to be released theatrically as well as across multiple digital platforms including a day and date release strategy.
The management team of the new venture will also include Shanan Becker, Chief Financial Officer and Ness Saban, Director of Business Development.
Adam Chesnoff, President and COO of Saban Capital Group continued; “We’ve put together a team led by a forward thinking industry veteran who shares the vision, scope and principles which are at the core of the Saban brand.”
Bromiley adds: “The film distribution business is ever-changing as the audiences’ choices of consuming entertainment expand every day. There is still a need for smart, commercial product which is marketed and distributed properly. We have a low-risk, high-reward distribution business model which is attractive for filmmakers.”
Prior to Saban Films, Bromiley served as Chief Acquisitions Officer of RLJ Entertainment, formerly known as Image Entertainment, where he was responsible for the acquisition of all content. While at Image, Bromiley shepherded such titles as Management (starring Jennifer Aniston, Woody Harrelson), Academy Award® nominated The Way Back (starring Ed Harris, Colin Farrell), Academy Award® nominated Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (directed by Sidney Lumet, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke and Marisa Tomei), and Academy Award® nominated Encounters at the End of the World (directed by Werner Herzog).
Becker joins Saban Films from RLJ Entertainment where he served as the EVP of Business Operations overseeing finance, planning and analysis along with cash management of the feature film division. Becker has previously held senior positions at Paramount Home Entertainment and DreamWorks Home Entertainment.
Saban Capital Group
("SCG") is a leading private investment firm with offices in Los Angeles and Singapore, specializing in the media, entertainment, and communication industries. SCG was established in 2001 by Haim Saban, co-founder of Fox Family Worldwide, a global television broadcasting, production, distribution and merchandising company owned in partnership with Rupert Murdoch and The News Corporation, following its sale to The Walt Disney Company in October 2001. The firm makes both controlling and minority investments in public and private companies and takes an active role in its portfolio companies. SCG's current private equity investments include: Univision (the premier Spanish-language media company in the US); Celestial Tiger Entertainment (a venture with Lionsgate and Astro, Malaysia¹s largest pay TV platform, to launch and operate new branded pay television channels across Asia); Taomee (China's leading children's online entertainment company); MNC (Indonesia's largest and only vertically-integrated media company); Sky Vision (Indonesia¹s largest Pay TV platform) and Partner Communications (a leading telecommunications company in Israel).
In addition, Saban Brands, formed in 2010 as an affiliate of SCG, was established to acquire and develop a world-class portfolio of brands including Power Rangers, Paul Frank, Julius Jr, Digimon Fusion and Popples, among many others. For more information, visit www.saban.com.