Media giant ViacomCBS has agreed to buy a 49% stake in film and television studio Miramax, which has a library of more than 700 titles including Pulp Fiction, Chicago and Good Will Hunting. ViacomCBS and its subsidiary Paramount Pictures will now have access to Miramax’s library, which includes 68 Oscar winners including the Scream franchise. Miramax’s latest film The Gentlemen, directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Hugh Grant, is released in UK cinemas on New Year’s Day. BeIN and ViacomCBS said they would also explore “other strategic partnership opportunities across content production and distribution, live events and recreation globally”. Nasser Al-Khelaifi, chairman of BeIN Media, said: “This represents a major investment in and endorsement of our thriving Miramax business, which has grown in value under BeIN Media Group’s ownership and has a fantastic future ahead with major new movies and unexploited premium dramas.

Source: Irish Examiner December 20, 2019 16:18 UTC