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Jeff Robinov’s Studio 8 and Sony Pictures reach distribution deal

Jeff Robinov's new film company, Studio 8, has reached a distribution agreement with Sony Pictures for up to six movies a year.
Jeff Robinov’s new film company, Studio 8, has reached a distribution agreement with Sony Pictures for up to six movies a year.
(Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)
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Jeff Robinov’s new film company, Studio 8, has signed a distribution deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment, the companies said on Monday.

The companies said Sony will distribute up to six movies a year from the new firm. In addition, Sony will invest in Studio 8, though the companies did not disclose the financial terms of the long-in-the-works deal.

Studio 8 said it is looking to secure up to $1 billion in debt and equity financing. This is the latest major investment for Studio 8 since June, when the fledgling studio announced an investment from the Chinese conglomerate Fosun International.

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Robinov’s production house will be based on Sony’s lot in Culver City.

The pact with Sony does not include distribution in China, where the film market is booming.

Studio 8 has yet to secure a distribution deal for China. However, Fosun said in a regulatory filing this summer that it “will exercise significant influence over the distribution arrangements of movies produced by Studio 8 in the mainland of China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan regions.”

Earlier this year, the Beijing film production company Huayi Bros. Media Corp. was in talks to invest as much as $150 million in Studio 8, though no such deal was struck.

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“I’m very grateful to have Fosun Group and Sony Pictures Entertainment as integral parts of this venture,” Robinov said in a statement. “Their support, experience and accomplishments will help us build a great global media company together.”

Robinov left Warner Bros. in the summer of 2013 after leading Hollywood’s biggest movie studio since 2007. The executive exited after he lost a race to succeed Barry Meyer as chairman and chief executive of Warner Bros.

Follow Ryan Faughnder on Twitter for more entertainment business coverage @rfaughnder.

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