Thanks to a newly created company formed by media heavyweights Jay Switzer, Jeff Sackman, Michael McLaughlin, Catherine Tait and David Kines, Canadian movie lovers are about to get a new Hollywood fix.
Hollywood Suite, a group of four HD movie channels, will launch in November across Canada. It will be available exclusively through Canadian cable, satellite and IPTV television service providers. Carriage arrangements have not yet been announced.
“This is a destination for the true movie lover,” said Hollywood Suite Inc. president and co-founder Kines. “Between the four channels, this is a reliable, go-to destination… you’ll find a movie you want to see.”
Kines added that the programming on the channels won’t include any “interview shows or filler” – it’s strictly movies.
Subscribers will be able to pick from more than 450 movies each month through the multiplatform service. Some of the movies will also be available on demand on TV, online and mobile for one monthly fee. While Kines couldn’t confirm the fee – it will depend on each television service provider – he was told “it’ll be less than Netflix.”
He added “We’re offering a premium service at a basic price.”
The channels will run uncut movies from Warner Bros. and MGM. While there won’t be commercials during the movies, there are advertising opportunities on the channels between films. “There’s very limited inventory, so it’s a chance to do more long-form advertising and more experimental and experiential stuff,” said Kines. “It’s certainly a friendly place for 60-second and two-minute commercials.”
While he couldn’t reveal who will be advertising on Hollywood Suite yet, Kines said “we’ll be the bull’s-eye for select advertisers… movies, premium cars, that kind of area, the [advertisers] you might see in the program at the symphony or in the TIFF guide.”
The Hollywood Suite consists of Warner Films, The MGM Channel, Hollywood Storm (action movies) and Hollywood Festival (romance films).
