Lionsgate Develops Broadcast Shows, Debuts Sheen's 'Anger' On FX

Anger-Management-Charlie-Sheen-A2A month before the Charlie Sheen-starring “Anger Management” debuts on FX, producer Lionsgate said international distribution is already garnering more than $600,000 an episode in five territories. The show will launch with 10 episodes starting June 28. If certain FX ratings thresholds are met, a trigger kicks in for the production of 90 more.

Speaking to investors on Thursday, Lionsgate TV production head Kevin Beggs said the formula for determining the ratings benchmark is “achievable” and in “keeping with FX’s other originals.” The studio should know by September whether “Anger Management” is on its way to 100 episodes.

Lionsgate also said it has a deal with Showtime for a fifth season of “Nurse Jackie.”

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Also in TV production, Lionsgate moved into development for broadcast networks for the fall season and received orders for drama “Nashville” from ABC and comedy “Next Caller” from NBC. Both will be cofinanced by the respective networks’ in-house studios.

As far as the TV Guide Network, where the company owns 51%, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer did not dispel notions that it would be sold. An arm of JP Morgan Chase, OEP, owns the remaining interest and Feltheimer said: “We’re continuing to have conversations with our partner OEP to maximize the value of that asset.”

The network is looking to move fully away from the bottom portion of its screen being occupied by a program guide. Feltheimer said it is on track to achieve that across 80% of its footprint by year end.

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