Celestial inks five-year output deal with Media Asia

Celestial Pictures, the Hong Kong-based film company and pay-TV channel operator, has signed an exclusive five-year multi-territory output deal with production and sales company, Media Asia Distribution.

The deal, which will cover Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia, will bring all new Media Asai films to Celestial Movies, the company’s Chinese-language move channel. It will include all pay-TV rights from cable, satellite to video-on-demand, Internet and mobile. 

Media Asia’s forthcoming films The Legend Of Chen Zhen, directed by Andrew Lau and starring Donnie Yen, Fire Of Conscience, directed by Dante Lam, and John Woo’s Reign Of Assassins will be among the first to be shown.

It is the second output deal between Celestial and Media Asia following the three year deal they signed in 2004.

Ross Pollack (pictured), chief executive of Celestial Pictures, said: “Our output deal with Media Asia ensures a steady stream of Chinese blockbusters to the channel. We also look forward to extending our alliance with more producers of Asian hit movies as we expand Celestial Movies across the region and beyond.”

Celestial is still in talks with new media companies about distributing its content on internet and mobile phones in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

Established in 2001, Celestial Pictures is a subsidiary of Malaysian Astro All Asia Networks plc.  It owns the 760-title Shaw Brothers library, which it has licensed in more than 100 territories, operates four TV channels and produces film and TV content.