Lionsgate joins TRX ranks

MIPTV: Online TV rights portal The RightsXchange (TRX) has added content from US giant Lionsgate to its platform.

Under the agreement announced here in Cannes today, 1,300 hours of programming from Lionsgate has been added to Matthew and David Frank’s TRX, including its unscripted television catalogue and titles from the Hearst, Ignite and Tribune libraries.

Lionsgate joins a collection of more than 600 buyers and 100 global distributors on TRX, which launched last year with the entire BBC Worldwide (BBCWW) catalogue added to its platform.

The tool, which was devised by the Franks in 2015, enables rights deals to be competed online and allows distributors to reach buyers in new international markets, which in turn get access to rights that would otherwise have been difficult to secure.

Along with BBCWW and Lionsgate, companies such as Sky Vision, All3Media, Cineflix, Off the Fence and Beta Films have also registered for the TRX service.

“Our agreement with TRX enhances our ability to maximise the value of our 16,000-title library and reach the broadest array of licensing partners around the world,” said Gene George, Lionsgate executive VP of worldwide distribution.

In its short existence, the digital start-up has so far attracted investment in excess of US$15m from individuals and strategic investors including VC Edge Investments, Channel 4 and Sky.