Worldwide Biggies Enters into First Look Deal with EPIX for Television Specials
First Special - My: Moment - Greenlit and in Production Takes Unprecedented Look at Olympic Skier Lindsay Vonn
NEW YORK -- EPIX, the premium entertainment channel, video-on-demand and online service, and Worldwide Biggies Inc., the digital entertainment studio helmed by family entertainment hit-maker Albie Hecht, jointly announced today a multi-project first-look deal. My: Moment, the first green-lit special, which offers an inside peek into the mind of Olympic gold medal skier Lindsay Vonn, is already in production and slated to air on EPIX in January 2011.
"EPIX is building an impressive roster of original programming and we are excited to be a part of their line-up. We see My: Moment as the Unplugged of the sports world, giving viewers something both visually and conceptually unlike anything else out there in sports documentaries."
Co-created by Hecht and Academy Award-nominated directors Sean and Andrea Fine, My: Moment takes an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look at what sets a professional athlete apart amidst the intense moments leading up to a major competitive event in her career. My: Moment is also being co-produced with IMG Entertainment, the premier sports representation firm.
"We are very happy to be teaming up with EPIX to bring our specials to television," said Albie Hecht, CEO and Founder of Worldwide Biggies Inc. "EPIX is building an impressive roster of original programming and we are excited to be a part of their line-up. We see My: Moment as the Unplugged of the sports world, giving viewers something both visually and conceptually unlike anything else out there in sports documentaries."
Laverne McKinnon, Executive Vice President, Original Programming and Development at EPIX, added "Albie is a rare and exceptional producer with a contagious passion and energy. He completely gets EPIX on every platform, and is committed to helping us build our network with unique and wildly entertaining premium events. We're thrilled to have this commitment with Albie and Worldwide Biggies."
About Worldwide Biggies Inc.
Helmed by longtime children's entertainment veteran Albie Hecht, Worldwide Biggies is a digital entertainment studio producing and creating interactive IP for the digital family and designed for additional distribution across all platforms including film, TV and licensing. Worldwide Biggies launched its first multi-platform hit on Nickelodeon and Nick.com with The Naked Brothers Band. Hecht also created and produced the Video Game Awards an annual fixture on Spike TV.
Hecht previously teamed up with Sean and Andrea Fine on the Academy Award nominated documentary feature War/Dance, produced by Shine Global, a non-profit film production company founded by Hecht and his wife Susan MacLaury to help raise awareness of children's issues. In addition to My: Moment, Hecht has a development deal in place with Syfy for Worldwide Biggies' first-of-its-kind transmedia property entitled Dr. What and will be releasing its first original character property Bigby as an iPhone game later this summer.
In 2010, Worldwide Biggies will also launch two separate virtual worlds for kids, a robust slate of iPhone/iPod Touch games, and continues to develop and produce innovative television programming for leading networks as well as continue internal development of over 30 original IP's. Among other 2010 projects, Worldwide Biggies will introduce its latest character franchise, Bigby, initially as an iPhone game application, and is in development on a feature film with Sony Pictures called Swift.
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 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 its partners and other studios, EPIX provides a powerful entertainment experience with more feature films on demand and online and more HD movies than any other service. It is the only premium service providing its entire monthly line-up of new Hollywood titles, classic feature films, original series, music and comedy specials through the linear channel, video-on-demand and online at EpixHD.com, the leading online destination for movies. EPIX has made the commitment to deliver the industry's most expansive online collection of movies, making more than 3,000 titles available on EpixHD.com this year. The service is available to over 30 million homes nationwide through carriage agreements with Verizon FiOS, DISH Network, Cox Communications, Mediacom Communications, Charter Communications and NCTC. For more information about EPIX, go to www.EpixHD.com.
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