Oct 12, 2009 14:00 ET
EPIX Unveils Powerhouse Launch Weekend Lineup
Madonna “Sticky & Sweet: Live from Buenos Aires” Two-Hour Concert
Premieres on October 30th
“Iron Man” and “Eddie Izzard: Live from Wembley” Underscore EPIX
Viewer Promise: Movies, Music a
NEW YORK --(Business Wire)-- Oct 12, 2009
EPIX™ unveiled today its October 30th launch weekend
programming lineup featuring a powerhouse slate of movies with a
worldwide box office value of more than $2.5 billion. EPIX’s
opening weekend will debut with the worldwide television and online
premieres of an exclusive two-hour special concert event, Madonna
“Sticky & Sweet: Live from Buenos Aires,” Marvel’s
blockbuster film “Iron Man,” and the exclusive comedy special “Eddie
Izzard: Live From Wembley.”
The “Sticky & Sweet” concert is the single most
successful solo-artist tour of all time; Madonna entertained more than
3.5 million concert-goers in 32 countries generating nearly $500
million in total gate. EPIX captured her dazzling two-hour
performance, live in Argentina at Buenos Aires’ River Plate Stadium with
special surprise guests Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, and Britney
Spears seamlessly performing with Madonna via large screen. This will
mark the first opportunity for audiences to see the sold out event
following the live concert. The Sticky & Sweet Tour supported Madonna’s
Grammy-nominated "Hard Candy," which debuted at number one on the charts
in over 37 countries.
“Performances from artists like Madonna represent the kind of marquee
talent who will perform on EPIX as part of our slate of monthly music
and comedy events,” said EPIX President Mark Greenberg.
Kicking off opening night with Marvel’s blockbuster movie “Iron Man,”
EPIX will debut a powerhouse line-up of movies over the course of
the weekend: more than fifteen world television premieres representing a
combined worldwide box office value of more than $2.5 billion include
Oscar-winner “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Tyler Perry’s hit
“Madea Goes to Jail,” family favorite “Pink Panther 2,” Lucasfilm’s
“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” “Cloverfield” and
“The Duchess” among many others.
In addition to movies and music, cutting edge comedy will headline
opening weekend with “Eddie Izzard: Live From Wembley.”
Izzard performs at his inimitable best during this sell-out European
tour, transcending labels with his stream of consciousness stories that
captivate audiences as his characters evolve and situations become more
absurd. Appearing in Oceans 12 and producing and starring in FX’s
“The Riches,” Izzard is known for his intelligent improvisational style,
capable of weaving together such disparate topics as the Greek gods and
Medusa’s hairstylist, transvestites and superheroes, along with musings
on the plight of rabbit-chasing greyhounds.
“There is no one like Eddie Izzard. He breaks the mold. He is smart,
engaging and hilarious,” said Greenberg.
As for his involvement with the multiplatform channel, Izzard said, “I
have always sought out new and innovative means for sharing my work with
my audience; I am thrilled to be a part of the very early days of EPIX
and their exciting new network.”
About EPIX
EPIX, a joint venture between Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B),
its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and
Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), is a next-generation multiplatform premium
entertainment channel, video-on-demand and online service launching with
Verizon FiOS and other distribution partners. With access to more than
15,000 motion pictures spanning the vast libraries of the partner
studios, EPIX will deliver films from Paramount, Paramount
Vantage, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies released theatrically on or
after January 1, 2008 and MGM, United Artists and Lionsgate titles
released theatrically on or after January 1, 2009, which will be
available exclusively to its subscribers.
Providing a powerful entertainment experience with more feature films on
demand and online and more HD movies than any other service, EPIX
will air new Hollywood titles plus classic feature films, original
series, and music and comedy specials. It is the only premium service
providing its entire monthly line-up on video-on-demand, online and on
the linear channel. Further, EPIX has made the commitment to
deliver the industry’s most expansive online collection of movies,
making more than 3,000 titles available online to subscribers via its
enhanced service EPIX Megaplex.
The joint venture controls all rights to EPIX’s programming and
Viacom provides operational support, including marketing and affiliate
services through its MTV Networks division.
Follow the EPIX twitter feed at http://www.twitter.com/EpixHD.
For EPIX
Amanda Kiely, 212-446-1896