Brett Ferino
03-25-2003, 03:28 PM
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Cable TV network TNN and broadcaster CBS have jointly acquired the rights to air the newest James Bond film, "Die Another Day" with TNN winning the world television premiere planned for 2005.
In a statement issued late on Monday, TNN said as part of a package, it acquired the rights to broadcast three other films about the fictional British agent code-named 007, "The World is Not Enough," "License to Kill" and "A View To a Kill."
One source who knew of the deal between TNN, CBS and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc studio that distributes the Bond movies put the package's value between $25 million and $30 million.
"Die Another Day," which stars Pierce Brosnan as Bond and Halle Berry as U.S. agent Jinx, is the highest grossing movie in the history of the Bond franchise with over $400 million in global ticket sales.
TNN, which promotes itself as a network aimed at men, can begin broadcasting "The World is Not Enough" in the fourth quarter of 2003 with "License to Kill" and "A View To a Kill" to follow in 2004.
TNN and CBS are owned by Viacom Inc . Together with sister network UPN in April last year, they acquired the rights to air 15 other classic Bond titles.
TNN's "Bond 007 Days of Christmas Marathon" was its highest rated week in 2002.
In a statement issued late on Monday, TNN said as part of a package, it acquired the rights to broadcast three other films about the fictional British agent code-named 007, "The World is Not Enough," "License to Kill" and "A View To a Kill."
One source who knew of the deal between TNN, CBS and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc studio that distributes the Bond movies put the package's value between $25 million and $30 million.
"Die Another Day," which stars Pierce Brosnan as Bond and Halle Berry as U.S. agent Jinx, is the highest grossing movie in the history of the Bond franchise with over $400 million in global ticket sales.
TNN, which promotes itself as a network aimed at men, can begin broadcasting "The World is Not Enough" in the fourth quarter of 2003 with "License to Kill" and "A View To a Kill" to follow in 2004.
TNN and CBS are owned by Viacom Inc . Together with sister network UPN in April last year, they acquired the rights to air 15 other classic Bond titles.
TNN's "Bond 007 Days of Christmas Marathon" was its highest rated week in 2002.