Grit, Escape Add Sony Pictures Films

The newly-launched male-centric and female-centric over-the-air broadcast television networks — Grit (for men) and Escape (for women) — have signed a multi-year licensing agreement with Sony Pictures Television  for TV rights to 150 demo-targeted motion pictures, it was announced today.

This is the fourth major multi-year film licensing agreement for Grit and Escape, both of which went on the air on Aug. 18.  The two networks also recently acquired the television rights to 135 motion pictures from Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, 157 films from NBCUniversal Television & New Media Distribution and nearly 200 movies from Paramount Pictures.

“This Sony package adds to our already-impressive line-up of theatricals, featuring some of the greatest movies ever made with legendary stars giving award-winning and memorable performances,: said Jonathan Katz, President and CEO of Katz Broadcasting, parent company of the two new networks. “They will be very popular with the target demos of both Grit and Escape.” 

Action-oriented Grit targets men 25-54 with a heavy focus on western, war and action theatrical motion pictures.  In the new agreement with SPT,  Grit lands such major titles as:  two memorable and Academy Award-nominated Jack Nicholson performances, A Few Good Men opposite Tom Cruise, and another Nicholson classic The Last Detail; the multiple Oscar-winning Best Picture The Bridge on the River Kwai; Humphrey Bogart’s Oscar-nominated turn in The Caine Mutiny; the multiple Oscar-nominated A Soldier’s Story;  Harrison Ford as the commander-in-chief defending Air Force One; Kevin Costner in the western Silverado; The Legend of Zorro, starring Antonio Banderes; Johnny Depp in the acclaimed inside-the-mob film Donnie Brasco opposite Al Pacino; Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Last Action Hero and Bruce Willis in Hudson Hawk.  Grit will also acquire such classic westerns as 3:10 to Yuma; Steve McQueen in Nevada Smith; The Texas Rangers and epic war movies including Glory and Casualties of War with Sean Penn and Michael J. Fox.

Escape targets women 25-54 with a brand of programming anchored in stories of crime, mystery and justice. Sony Pictures Television drama and mystery titles headed to Escape include: Glenn Close in the did-he-or-didn’t-he-do-it thriller Jagged Edge opposite Jeff Bridges; the multiple Oscar-nominated Absence of Malice starring Sally Field and Paul Newman; Sandra Bullock in The Net; Single White Female and its’ sequel Single White Female 2; Cher’s critically-acclaimed role as a defense attorney in Suspect; Eye of the Beholder starring Ashley Judd; Demi Moore as The Juror as well as in Mortal Thoughts; Trapped starring Charlize Theron; Director Brian DePalma’s mysterious Body Double and more.

Grit and Escape are currently seen in 50% of the country.