AMC Networks has named RLJ Entertainment head Miguel Penella to the new role of President, Global Direct-to-Consumer. He will continue to run RLJE, the parent of Acorn TV and UMC in which AMC acquired a majority stake last year. In his new position, Penella will oversee a portfolio that includes Shudder and Sundance…

AMC Networks is paying $274 million to acquire RLJ Entertainment after buying a stake in the media company in February. RLJ, which was built by notable media figure Robert L. Johnson, controls assets like subscription streaming services Acorn TV and Urban Movie Channel. Together, the two SVODs have racked up 800,000…

Jonathan Watson’s dark comedy Arizona starring Danny McBride has landed at RLJE Films, which has acquired all North American rights to the film. Arizona marks another collaboration between Watson and McBride, who have worked together on the HBO comedy Vice Principals. The film was penned by Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s Luke…

A little more than a year after offering a loan that stabilized RLJ Entertainment, AMC Networks is making a $16 million offer for full control of the company behind streaming service Acorn TV and the Urban Movie Channel. The cable programmer, which owns AMC as well as channels including SundanceTV and IFC and SVOD…

EXCLUSIVE: RLJE Films, a brand under the RLJ Entertainment umbrella, has acquired North American rights to The Houses October Built 2, a horror sequel to the 2014 found-footage haunted-house pic. Original director/co-writer/star Bobby Roe returns, as does his ensemble cast of Brandy Schaefer, Zack Andrews, Mikey Roe…

RLJ Entertainment has acquired North American rights to The Osiris Child, an action/sci-fi movie starring Kellan Lutz. The company is planning a fall theatrical and VOD bow for the pic, directed by Shane Abbess who also co-wrote the script with Brian Cachia. The plot is set during a time of interplanetary colonization…

The Limehouse Golem, produced by Stephen Woolley and starring Billy Nighy and Olivia Cooke, has been picked up for U.S. theatrical release by RLJ Entertainment. The thriller, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last year, will be released into theaters and on VOD Sept. 8. Based on the novel Dan Leno and the Li…

RLJ Entertainment has acquired U.S. rights to Once Upon A Time In Venice, an action comedy starring Bruce Willis and directed by Mark Cullen. Cullen and his brother Robb co-wrote the pic as they did for Willis’ 2010 pic Cop Out. A June 16 release date in theaters and VOD has been set. John Goodman, Thomas Middleditch…

EXCLUSIVE: Robert L. Johnson, Chairman of RLJ Entertainment, has upped Traci Otey Blunt to President of Urban Movie Channel, a subscription-based streaming service created for African American and urban audiences. The position was newly created for Blunt, who had been serving as the head of UMC helping to spearhead…

RLJ Entertainment has just landed a seven-figure U.S. rights deal for Bushwick, the thriller starring Dave Bautista and Brittany Snow that just made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. XYZ Films and WME Global brokered the deal. Cary Murnion and Jonathan Milott directed the pic, which centers on Lucy who…

Shares of cable programming pioneer Robert Johnson’s RLJ Entertainment opened up more than 26% this morning after it disclosed that AMC Networks has loaned it $65 million — and picked up stock warrants that could give it control. RLJ owns subscription streaming services UMC (the Urban Movie Channel) and Acorn TV…

Rolling Stone has sold a 49% stake of the iconic American pop culture magazine to Singapore-based social music company BandLab Technologies. Wenner Media, the magazine's parent company, announced the deal over the weekend. Terms have not been disclosed but the investment does not include ownership in Wenner Media. The…