[LotR] TV rights for FotR go for $60 million

[Barendd Nobeard]

From the Sci Fi Channel website:

The WB network is poised to acquire TV rights to the Lord of the Rings trilogy of films, in tandem with its sister Turner Broadcasting cable networks, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The long-term pact is valued at more than $160 million, the trade paper reported.
<snip>
The combined WB-Turner license fee for the first Rings film, The Fellowship of the Ring, is about $60 million; the price tag on the second and third movies will depend on their box-office tallies.

Wow. Domestic box office over $250 million and now this. I think the film made some money for New Line et al.....


[edit - fix title typo]

 

[William Ronald]

Hi, Barendd!! Good to hear from you!!

I think the accountants at New Line must be dancing! The LOTR has really helped the studio. I think world wide box office is somewhere near $400 million.

I wonder if all three films will break the billion dollar mark once you add in the box office and broadcast rights?

 

[quexly]

I was going in to this post with my fingers crossed, chanitng "Please not Fox or Turner, please not Fox or Turner..."

So much for positive thinking. Damn media moguls.

 

[Tyrion]

I hope the network has the sense to keep commercials to a minimum...hardcore LoTR fans will already have the DVD, and casual watchers will not put up with 4-4.5 hours to watch a single movie.

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

Hi, Barendd!! Good to hear from you!!

Hello, William! Any chance you're coming up to Milwaukee for Ruby Con later this month?

I think the accountants at New Line must be dancing! The LOTR has really helped the studio. I think world wide box office is somewhere near $400 million.

I wonder if all three films will break the billion dollar mark once you add in the box office and broadcast rights?

Well, The Internet Movie Database shows FotR as $596 million worldwide (but the figures for this week aren't included in that).

I don't know if the other two films will get as much audience as the first, but $160 mil for t.v. puts the LotR trilogy only $244 million shy of the one billion mark--with only the first movie released.

I think hard core fans (of the movie, anyway) would eagerly see the previous film(s) again in preparation for the follow-ups. New Line would be smart to re-release the earlier films right before the new ones come out--say, FotR one week before The Two Towers in Dec 2002. In Dec 2003, they should show all three, one week at a time.

 

[William Ronald]

Hi, Barendd! It looks unlikely that I can make it. The cash flow problem is VERY bad right now. (Job hunt getting futile.) When is it? If I get the time and money, I will try. At the least, I will try to have my friends who are likely to go up to Milwaukee say high.

(My gaming group now has occassional Milwaukeeans. The more gamers, the merrier .... within limits. Hmm, there is a funny story I should post to the board to see if anyone has had similar experiences.)

 

[William Ronald]

Barendd, if I remember correctly, a trailer for The Two Towers will be added to the end of FOTR in March. This should boost revenues.

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

Barendd, if I remember correctly, a trailer for The Two Towers will be added to the end of FOTR in March. This should boost revenues.

I forgot about that! It will certainly help the bottom line.

Hope the job hunt picks up. Too bad about RubyCon. If something changes and you can make, let me know. <bribe> I'll even pay for your slot at the Interactive if you can make it. </bribe>

And post that funny story. I've got to know if other Milwaukee gamers are ruining our reputation when travelling to the flatlands. That's my job.