Press Releases

CULVER CITY, USA / LONDON UK (May 10, 2011) - Sony Pictures Television (SPT) today announced that two of its hit series, The Big C and Justified, have been licensed across additional territories in Europe. The new deals place the popular half-hour comedy in 171 countries and the hour-long drama in 193 countries. The announcement was made by Keith LeGoy, president, distribution, SPT.

Building on the success of its debut season and a second season pick-up by Showtime in the US, The Big C will air in Norway (TV2), Netherlands (Fox), Ukraine (Inter), Russia (Domashny) and Italy (FOX), where it is slated to premiere in June. In New Zealand, The Big C recently aired on TV3, ranking #1 in its time period among women ages 18-49 while in Sweden, the comedy has delivered stellar ratings for SVT1 garnering 45 percent more viewers than its timeslot averages - placing it #1 amongst women ages 15-44.

Broadcasters in Netherlands (RTL), Ukraine (Inter Group of Channels) and Germany (Pro7) have picked up the popular crime drama, Justified. The drama recently received a 13-episode season three pick-up from FX in the US and has generated solid ratings in both the UK (Fiver USA) and in Spain (Calle 13) where it has out-performed channel averages by 64 percent.

"Dynamic story telling coupled with award-winning performances by instantly recognizable talent make SPT's programming appealing to audiences and broadcasters around the world," said LeGoy. "The success of The Big C and Justified demonstrates the durability of our shows and the demand for compelling television in vastly different markets."

The Big C currently airs on SVT in Sweden, SBS in Belgium, Fox and ZDF in Germany, and is set to appear on Viasat in Denmark. Justified also airs on FX Crime in Russia, AXN in Italy, SBS in Belgium, and Nelonen / Channel4 in Finland.

The Big C stars three-time Emmy® winner and Golden Globe® award winner, Laura Linney. Linney plays a reserved suburban wife and mother whose recent cancer diagnosis forces her to shake up her life and find hope, humour and the light side of a dark situation, while managing her immature but well-meaning husband, played by Oliver Platt.

Starring Timothy Olyphant, Justified is based on the popular Elmore Leonard character 'Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens.' Givens is a modern-day 19th century-style lawman, enforcing his brand of justice in a way that puts a target on his back with criminals and places him at odds with his bosses in the Marshal service.

The Big C is produced by Original Film in association with Sony Pictures Television. Justified is produced by Timberman/Beverly Productions, FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television.

ENDS

ABOUT SONY PICTURES TELEVISION
Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry's leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment around the world and for every platform: broadcast and cable television, first-run and off-network syndication and digital distribution. In addition to one of the industry's largest libraries of feature films and television shows, SPT boasts a current program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. Internationally, SPT is a leader in local language productions around the world, some of which are co-produced with local partners, and sells SPE-owned formats in approximately 70 countries. To better serve its clients and partners worldwide, SPT maintains offices throughout the world, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, the People's Republic of China, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Venezuela and the United Kingdom. SPT's worldwide television networks portfolio is a key strategy in SPE's long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with 120 channel feeds, which are available in more than 142 countries reaching more than 500 million households worldwide. SPT also creates original content for and manages SPE's premium video website, Crackle. Additionally, SPT owns Dutch entertainment company 2waytraffic, production company Embassy Row and Sony Movie Channel, and is a part owner of cable channel GSN, new 3D channel 3net, FEARnet, the premier horror/thriller website and VOD service, and national media sales company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT advertiser sales is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial inventory in SPT's syndicated series as well as in all of SPE's digital businesses in the United States. SPT (www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

For more information please contact:

Mark Macdonald, Executive Director, Corporate Communications
Sony Pictures Television
mark_macdonald@spe.sony.com
+44 20 7533 1363