lionsgate has launched moviesphere Gold, a new, ad-supported digital network dedicated exclusively to feature films. The network, a venture between Lionsgate Worldwide Television Distribution Group and Debmar-Mercury, debuted with availability in approximately 30 million U.S. homes via platforms including DirecTV, Dish TV, Frndly, and Sling Freestream, as well as broadcast groups reaching over 80% of the country.
MovieSphere Gold will draw from Lionsgate’s library of over 20,000 titles, offering films such as Dirty Dancing, Rambo, Kick-Ass, The Shack, The hunger Games, and The Expendables. Initial launch titles also include daybreakers,Scream 4,Sinister,The cabin in the Woods,murder So Sweet,and Baby For sale.
“MovieSphere gold represents the next evolution in multicast entertainment,” said jim Packer,president of worldwide television distribution for Lionsgate. “This new digital network gives audiences access to acclaimed titles that were previously unavailable in this space, offering a richer, more diverse selection of films than ever before.”
The launch positions MovieSphere Gold as a dedicated movie service in a landscape dominated by broader streaming platforms like Netflix and Prime Video. CBS Media Ventures will handle national advertising sales for the network.
According to Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus, “MovieSphere gold offers us the rare opportunity to enter into an area of television – digital broadcasting - that is growing year over year with eight diginets now among the top-50 entertainment networks. and as of the massive size and quality of the Lionsgate film library, this now gives us the unique ability to pivot to the titles that perform best with viewers.”
