• by David Goetzl , August 11, 2009

Lionsgate's television production is set to yield a mass of syndication and home entertainment revenues in the coming years, according to CEO Jon Feltheimer. Meanwhile, an "Atlas Shrugged" mini-series is in production for the coming Epix pay-TV channel.

Speaking on a call with analysts Tuesday, Feltheimer said Showtime's "Weeds" has been picked up for a sixth season, and a seventh is expected. That franchise should bring in $100 million in home entertainment dollars.

Also, AMC's "Mad Men," Showtime's "Nurse Jackie" and the "Crash" TV series on Starz are expected to produce a lucrative pipeline when each has enough episodes for a syndication sale.

"These shows give us a potent lineup of product that can be syndicated for years to come," he said.

Feltheimer also said Lionsgate is moving toward joint production ventures that could bring additional series from "Mad Men" creator Matthew Weiner, and "Weeds" developer Jenji Kohan. The arrangements would be similar to what Lionsgate has with Ish Entertainment, a production operation run by former VH1 programmer Michael Hirschorn.

Also in development is the "Atlas Shrugged" mini-series for the coming Epix pay channel, where Lionsgate has about a one-third ownership stake. The channel is aiming to offer programming with films and original TV series to compete with HBO and Showtime.

Still, the fate of Epix, scheduled for an October launch, hangs in the balance since some distributors have indicated they are unwilling to carry it with a glut of pay-TV channels. But Feltheimer said a deal with Verizon, where Epix will appear on the lightly distributed FiOS telco TV service, has given distribution efforts "momentum." Negotiations are being handled by Viacom.

Feltheimer provided no details, but said Epix "discussions are heating up across the spectrum of potential partners and we remain confident that we will have a number of carriage deals in place at the time of our launch."

Regarding Lionsgate's acquisition of the TV Guide Network, Feltheimer said the company pulled a coup, buying it early this year "at the bottom of the recessionary period" for about $240 million-plus. The company subsequently sold a 49% interest to a private-equity arm.

Feltheimer said the company pegs the network's valuation -- which includes TVGuide.com -- at $400 million now, and believes it can be $1 billion entity. The network -- which garners 80% of revenue from ad sales -- is shifting to a general entertainment model from its traditional role as a viewing guide.

It will begin airing episodes of ABC's "Ugly Betty" this fall and is gradually reducing the listings scroll on the bottom of the screen.

The channel feeds on satellite operators DirecTV and Dish Network are now full-screen, while listings are gradually being eliminated from the streams from cable operators as new affiliate deals are signed and others may be adjusted.

Now with production operations in TV and film -- it has released between 18 and 20 films annually for the past three years -- and distribution avenues with Epix and TV Guide Network, Lionsgate is mirroring larger media companies such as News Corp. and Disney in helping protect itself against the vagaries of the business.