EPIX Goes Coast-to-Coast; Inks First Nationwide Distribution Deal with DISH Network®

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EPIX™ today announced its launch on DISH Network, making its content available to the distributor’s more than 14.1 million customers around the nation. This is the first national distribution deal for EPIX and will accelerate significantly its reach to millions of American consumers.

“Partnering with EPIX underscores our ongoing commitment to deliver the very best in HD entertainment to our customers”

EPIX is the premium entertainment joint venture formed by Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), which provides consumers the latest Hollywood movies, 15,000 films from three of the top motion picture libraries and cutting-edge original programming and special comedy and concert events, exclusively in HD and SD. Specific terms of the agreement with the DISH Network were not disclosed.

“Partnering with EPIX underscores our ongoing commitment to deliver the very best in HD entertainment to our customers,” said Dave Shull, Senior Vice President of Programming for DISH Network. “EPIX is an important part of our increased HD channel offering and strong expansion of our movie lineup. DISH Network subscribers will now have access to exclusive programming and movie content in HD that can be found only on EPIX.”

Mark Greenberg, President and CEO of EPIX, said, “Teaming with DISH Network to make EPIX available to its more than 14 million satellite TV customers is a major step forward for us as we expand our national footprint. DISH Network is committed to delivering the very best in HD entertainment, and recognizes that EPIX is an important part of that experience .”

EPIX has concluded carriage agreements with six distributors. In addition to DISH Network, EPIX has reached agreements with Verizon FiOS, Cox, Charter, Mediacom and NCTC, carriage that will make the service available to consumers in over 30 million homes by May 2010.

EPIX offers a linear channel, on demand service and online service at www.EpixHD.com, offering consumers over 200 films and original programming each month on TV and on demand. EpixHD.com is the leading online destination for movies, with the most HD films plus studio exclusives, behind the scenes footage, movie extras and access to an innovative online screening room feature which enables consumers to invite friends anywhere to watch movies while they chat online in real time. Additionally, the enhanced service, EPIX Megaplex, will deliver over more than 3,000 films at anytime and anywhere.

Movie and entertainment offerings from EPIX that will be available to DISH Network customers include Academy Award winners Precious (Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay) and The Cove (Best Documentary), blockbusters Star Trek and GI Joe, the cult hit Paranormal Activity, Tyler Perry’s highly successful film franchise – Madea Goes to Jail and I Can Do Bad All by Myself, plus music and comedy all-star specials like Madonna Sticky & Sweet: Live from Buenos Aires, The Black Eyed Peas: The E.N.D. World Tour 2010, Lewis Black and Sam Kinison Back from Hell featuring Chris Rock, Denis Leary and many others.

About DISH Network

DISH Network L.L.C., a subsidiary of DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH), provides more than 14.1 million satellite TV customers, as of Dec. 31, 2009, with the highest quality programming and technology at the best value, including the lowest all-digital price nationwide. Customers have access to hundreds of video and audio channels, the most HD channels, the most international channels, state-of-the-art interactive TV applications, and award-winning HD and DVR technology including 1080p Video on Demand and the ViP® 722 HD DVR, a CNET and PC Magazine "Editors' Choice." DISH Network Corporation is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) and is a Fortune 200 company. Visit www.dish.com, follow on Twitter, @dishnetwork (www.twitter.com/dishnetwork), or become a Fan on Facebook, www.facebook.com/dishnetwork.

About EPIX

EPIX, a joint venture between Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), is a next-generation multiplatform premium entertainment channel, video-on-demand and online service launched on October 30, 2009. With access to more than 15,000 motion pictures spanning the vast libraries of the partner studios, EPIX delivers films from Paramount, Paramount Vantage, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies released theatrically on or after January 1, 2008 and MGM, United Artists and Lionsgate titles released theatrically on or after January 1, 2009, which are available exclusively to its subscribers. In addition, it will carry up to 22 Roadside Attractions films slated for theatrical release in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and up to 20 of Samuel Goldwyn's films slated for theatrical release in 2010 and 2011.

Providing a powerful entertainment experience with more feature films on demand and online and more HD movies than any other service, EPIX will air new Hollywood titles plus classic feature films, original series, and music and comedy specials. It is the only premium service providing its entire monthly line-up on video-on-demand, online and on the linear channel. Further, EPIX has made the commitment to deliver the industry’s most expansive online collection of movies, making more than 3,000 titles available online to subscribers via its enhanced service EPIX Megaplex.

The joint venture controls all rights to EPIX’s programming and Viacom provides operational support, including marketing and affiliate services through its MTV Networks division.

Follow the EPIX twitter feed at http://www.twitter.com/EpixHD.