CALIFORNIA (US): MGM Worldwide Television Distribution and Premiere, the leading pay-television provider in Germany and Austria have entered into a long-term, multi- faceted agreement to launch the first ever MGM-branded channel in Germany, the largest cable and satellite market in Europe, as well as in Austria.

The companies have also entered into a significant, multi- year output arrangement, which now includes the planned pay-television debuts of such film hits as Barbershop and Legally Blonde, as well as the forthcoming James Bond actioner Die Another Day..

The new channel in Germany and Austria will join the company's growing stable of worldwide network interests which currently reach over 90 countries, including branded channels across India, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, South Korea, Israel, Turkey and New Zealand. To be carried on the Premiere Plus Tier of the Premiere platform, the MGM Channel will be offered on a 24/7 basis to subscribers within Germany and Austria and will be available for cable distribution across all of German-speaking Europe. Slated to launch in the second quarter of next year, the channel will tap into MGM's rich film offerings from its celebrated 4,000-title library, the largest modern film library in the world, with planned broadcasts to include Annie Hall,, Midnight Cowboy, Oliver Stone's Platoon. and the classic musical "West Side Story.

Since the beginning of the year, the number of territories in which MGM Networks has a channel presence has grown more than fourfold, claims an official release.