Weinstein Co. inks deal with Showtime

July 15, 2008 [...] in an unusual twist, the indie distributor apparently will make an advance "bonus" payment of as much as $100 million to the pay cable channel. Declining to discuss the financial terms of the deal, the Weinstein Co. co-chief Harvey Weinstein called the suggestion of a prepayment clause "rumor and innuendo" but added that in his opinion, the deal is "a game-changer" for his company. Other industry observers likened the Weinstein Co.'s payment to Showtime as a "deposit," subject to a "rebate" that protects Showtime in the event that the Weinstein Co. doesn't delivered the number or quality of films promised.

Subscribe to the Hollywood Reporter and see the entertainment industry from its best angle: the inside looking out. Complete access to real-time news and exclusive analysis that goes behind the scenes from film to television, home video to digital media.

   Subscribe now.