MarVista Entertainment has launched a digital entertainment division to expand the company’s distribution capabilities and license original and acquired content to digital platforms throughout North America.
The launch of MarVista Digital Entertainment kicks off Aug. 1 with the release of Disney Channel’s “Zapped,” starring Zendaya.
MVDE will provide curated monthly program slates with an output of at least two new and at least three catalog titles.
The company’s August slate of digital releases will also include “Fatal Acquittal,” starring Joely Fisher and Denise Richards; family comedy “If I Had Wings,” starring Craig Bierko and Jill Hennessy; and the crime thriller “Betrayed,” with Amanda Schull.
MVDE’s content pipeline comprises the company’s original productions and co-productions, as well as third-party acquisitions, with 40 new titles in the works for 2014 that MarVista will produce, finance, co-finance, or acquire. Original productions include over 150 movies that have been licensed to premiere on U.S. and international channels, among them Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Lifetime Television, Hallmark Channel, Ion and Syfy.
Exec VP of distribution Vanessa Shapiro will head the new division and Scott Kirkpatrick will take on the role of director of distribution for MVDE.
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“Over the past several years we have amassed a significant catalog of over 2,000 hours of top-notch content, and our strategic plan for the future is to accelerate our level of investment in original and acquired content,” said Fernando Szew, CEO, MarVista Entertainment. “At this juncture, the timing is right for MarVista to capitalize on opportunities in the digital space by creating an in-house division to proactively build relationships with the established and emerging digital platforms across North America.”
