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Arts Alliance sets up in the US UK-based digital distribution company Arts Alliance Media (AAM) is entering the US with the acquisition of New York-based Hart Sharp Video, whose biggest hit of late was Morgan Spurlock's Super Size Me. Hart Sharp will be renamed Arts Alliance America and the company's existing president, Joe Amodei, will retain the same position, reporting to London-based AAM CEO Howard Kiedaisch. AAM, the biggest single shareholder in online movie rental service LoveFilm, retains distribution agreements with studios including Fox, Warner Bros, Universal and Sony. The company also powers download services being offered by internet portals likes AOL and Tiscali and production giant FremantleMedia. AAM's roots are in digital cinema – still a major part of its business – but it is also developing a new standalone download service called Vizumi. The US foothold gained through the acquisition of Hart Sharp will help to further strengthen this proposition, with Amodei's more than 20 years of home video experience coming into play. Arts Alliance America will continue in the same vein, continuing to acquire, market and distribute films for DVD, theatrical release and digital distribution. Under a joint production venture with Spurlock the company will release a mockumentary about teaching, called Chalk, tomorrow. Upcoming TV content will be four to six TV Guide-branded releases including TV Guide Presents Banacek – The First Season, Trapped in TV Guide and TV Guide Presents The Crow: Stairway to Heaven – The Complete First Season. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed but it's understood that the involvement of Norwegian shipping magnate Thomas Høegh in both ventures played a part. Høegh founded AAM and was also a major investor in Hart Sharp. "I have known Joe and his team for over 10 years now and am really happy to announce Arts Alliance America with them on board," said AAM's Kiedaisch. "Many great opportunities lie ahead for us as we take our digital home distribution business to new heights." Amodei said that while digital distribution was an exciting area to be involved in, the company's DVD business would continue to remain core for some time yet. Spurlock added that the establishment of AAM would "give us the opportunity to distribute even more worthwhile films on a larger scale and allow more filmmakers the chance to get their movies seen by a global audience." Jonathan Webdale 10 May 2007 © C21 Media 2007 
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