MUMBAI: Continuing the diversification of its television business, Lionsgate is partnering with television and music entrepreneur and producer Simon Fuller to develop a contemporary television musical drama chronicling the lives and loves of a young California rock ?n? roll band.

Fuller?s 25-year entertainment career has been highlighted by innovation and number one hits in TV, film, music, sports and fashion, and he has become famous for creating and producing ?American Idol?, developing the Beckhams into one of the world?s most recognisable talent brands and guiding the careers of music stars, such as Annie Lennox, Kelly Clarkson, The Spice Girls, Amy Winehouse, Carrie Underwood, Daughtry, David Cook, Adam Lambert and hit songwriter Cathy Dennis. He currently serves as Executive Producer on ?American Idol?, ?So You Think You Can Dance? and ?Q?Viva!: The Chosen?.

Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer and Vice Chairman Michael Burns said, "Lionsgate?s growth has been built on our partnerships with some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the entertainment industry, and Simon Fuller is an entrepreneurial icon whose success in TV, film and music sets him in a class by himself. He has pioneered new brands with almost unique replicability around the world, and we?re thrilled to partner with him on a show that represents the latest and one of the most exciting chapters in the ongoing diversification of our television business."

Lionsgate Television Group President Kevin Beggs and Lionsgate Television COO Sandra Stern said, "Simon Fuller has created some of the most successful and enduring franchises in entertainment today. We believe that this musical drama about a young rock ?n? roll band will have global resonance with the same young audiences that have fueled the success of other Lionsgate franchises. From American Idol to Spice Girls, Simon has consistently demonstrated the ability to generate brands and formats with enormous worldwide appeal."

Fuller said, "I am full of positive anticipation for this new collaboration and delighted to partner with Jon Feltheimer, Kevin Beggs and the rest of the team at Lionsgate, one of the most dynamic and innovative companies in the entertainment industry. From ?Mad Men? and ?Weeds? to ?The Hunger Games?, Lionsgate has demonstrated the global perspective, creative instincts and marketing prowess to build successful franchises for the future. Our combined powers and vision promise to make for an exciting new entertainment property."

Lionsgate and Fuller have already launched a search across the US for four young actors who are also skilled musicians to portray the band members. Showrunner meetings are underway, and the series is being shaped for both broadcast and cable outlets.

MUMBAI: Lionsgate and Hispanic media company Televisa have agreed on terms for a long term programming and development venture to create English language television content for US broadcast and cable networks, it was announced by Lionsgate co-chairman, CEO Jon Feltheimer and Televisa president, CExO Emilio Azcarraga.

The alliance represents another expansion of Lionsgate and Televisa?s longstanding partnership and complements the two companies? film joint venture, Pantelion Films, launched in 2010 to acquire and distribute feature films for the Hispanic market in the US.

The new television partnership will include the development of scripted and unscripted English language original programming as well as format adaptations from Televisa?s vast library of thousands of titles, including telenovelas to be produced in English. It includes a development fund designed to attract quality talent to approximately six to eight projects a year.

Several projects are already in the pipeline, including: ?From Prada To Nada?, Pantelion?s debut film which is being developed as a comedy TV series; ?Badlands?, a scripted drama at ABC in partnership with ABC Studios based on Televisa?s Soy Tu Duena, a successful telenovela; ?Terminales? for ABC Family; and ?Teresa?, based on Televisa telenovela.

Feltheimer said, "Televisa is one of the greatest programming forces in the world, and they have consistently shown the ability not only to serve Latino audiences but to reach viewers around the world with exciting, entertaining and compelling content. I?ve known Emilio Azcarraga and Pepe Baston for many years, and I?m delighted to extend our Pantelion Films relationship into the U.S. television market as well."

The new venture would focus on programming with a Latin feel and US appeal.

Lionsgate and Televisa have also joined forces to identify original and exciting creative voices that will resonate with the hip young audience in the US and will support the companies? film and TV partnerships. They have created the Lionsgate and Televisa Fund For Student Support at the USC School of Cinematic Arts to "support, encourage and educate new voices" by providing assistance to underrepresented minority students studying screenwriting and TV and film production at USC. The fund will provide tuition assistance and an internship opportunity at Pantelion Films to two USC graduate students a year for the next three years.

MUMBAI: Lionsgate is centralising its television business and has hired Lawrence Szabo, an 18-year veteran of MGM‘s Worldwide Television Group, as its new executive VP of North America Television Sales.

The company said this is part of its continuing drive to centralise its worldwide television group at its Santa Monica, California headquarters and ongoing focus on monetising its television and film content across all platforms in North America.

The announcement was made by Lionsgate President of Worldwide Television Distribution and Digital Operations Jim Packer, to whom Szabo and the worldwide television distribution team reports.

Szabo‘s North American distribution responsibilities will include sales of all Lionsgate television content across all platforms in the US and all new television content to digital and traditional media platforms in Canada as well as coordinating with Alliance Films on distribution of the Lionsgate filmed entertainment library in Canada.

Szabo held a series of progressively responsible international home entertainment and television executive positions during his 18-year tenure at MGM, and he most recently served as senior vice president of the MGM Worldwide Television Group and co-managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, based in London. In this capacity he was responsible for MGM‘s television distribution and television library sales in numerous key international territories, and he innovated digital marketing strategies for the distribution of the James Bond feature film franchise across international pay and free TV platforms. Szabo began his career with First Interstate‘s investment banking group.

Packer said, "I have known Lawrence for many years, and he is ideally qualified to help lead Lionsgate‘s worldwide television distribution initiatives as our TV and feature film brands continue to drive our growth throughout North America and around the world. He will be a key lieutenant as we utilize our content leadership, strong brands and focus on the platforms of the future to elevate our worldwide television distribution to the next level of performance."

Szabo said, "I‘ve been watching Lionsgate‘s bold production strategy for a number of years, and I am thrilled to be joining a company that produces ground-breaking entertainment, from Emmy-winning ?Mad Men? to future franchises such as ?Hunger Games?. I‘m excited to join Jim‘s distribution team and work with North American pay, free and digital broadcasters to realize their respective programming and branding objectives."

Packer further noted that the company continues to round out its worldwide television distribution and digital operations team at its Santa Monica headquarters as David Nonaka, recently promoted executive VP of business and legal affairs, assumes fulltime legal oversight of worldwide television licensing.

Kate Nexon and Bruce Field have been promoted to key positions within the digital operations group.