Latest in Distribution

As it enters a new phase with the direct-to-consumer streaming service Discovery+ among its offerings, Discovery has made two key distribution appointments. Michele Barney has been named president of affiliate distribution and Eric Phillips will move into to the newly created role of president of global distribution…

In his first extensive public comments about the major restructuring implemented in October, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said it has elicited “100% buy-in” from executives at the company. With the new structure in place, he added during a Thursday call to discuss Disney’s fourth-quarter and full-year earnings, it will be…

Watching Wayne Wang's Coming Home Again, set for a virtual release (online, but through individual theaters) by Outsider Pictures on Oct. 23, delivered a jolt. Like getting nicked by a live wire. The picture is so small–shot in just over three weeks on a micro-budget. So personal: The story is about a young…

After a day of public distribution drama last Friday, NBCUniversal’s Peacock has officially launched on Roku in the U.S.. The streaming service now has access to Roku’s 43 million active accounts. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts has estimated Peacock has been downloaded 15 million times but it should now get quite a few…

Warner Media’s sales and international unit has appointed Sofia Chang and Rich Warren, longtime HBO and Turner veterans, respectively, to lead its distribution business. Both will take the title of president and will report to Gerhard Zeiler, Chief Revenue Officer of WarnerMedia and president of WarnerMedia…

EXCLUSIVE: After months of negotiation and speculation over the future of UK distributor Icon Film Distribution, I hear the company and its backer New Sparta has agreed a sale deal to fellow UK outfit Kaleidoscope and its main investor Schneider Media Investments (SMI). The talks with Kaleidoscope have been going on…

Annapurna Pictures now is employing a full marketing and distribution staff as the company expands into truly a mini-studio, reminiscent of the old Miramax but without the Harvey. It now is financing, marketing and distributing its own product and will be officially in full swing to try to hit Kathryn Bigelow's Untitle…

Today our sister publication Variety reported on the Screening Room, a new first-run movie service being pitched around town by Napster co-founder and former Facebook president Sean Parker. His twist on an old idea that has been thwarted before by exhibitors would be that major studio releases could be accessed via…

Theatrical exhibition company Tugg Inc., the movie marketer that allows fans and creators to choose the films that play in theaters, has partnered with Elizabeth Koch’s New Balloon cross-platform media venture on an initiative to help market and distribute culturally significant films, big and small. Their new…

EXCLUSIVE: Universal’s legendary President of Distribution Nikki Rocco is promoting Nicholas Carpou from EVP/General Sales Manager in Distribution to Co-President of Distribution. “For recognition of his 25 years here and 34 years in the biz,” an insider tells me. “He’s a tremendous right hand to Nikki. It’s time.&#8221…

Rebecca Kearey has been promoted to EVP International Marketing and Distribution at Fox Searchlight International. She will continue to oversee international marketing and distribution for Fox Searchlight Pictures and recently took on the same duties at Fox International Productions. She will report to 20th Century…

Relativity Media announced today that it has launched a Television Sales and Digital Distribution Unit that will be led by president David Spiegelman. The group already has closed deals with most digital and video-on-demand platforms and is licensing Relativity films including Limitless, Take Me Home Tonight, Skyline…