The deals secure exclusive first-run pay-TV rights, as well as pay-per-view and VOD rights, of all upcoming movies from the two studios for CTE’s Chinese movie channel CELESTIAL MOVIES (CM) in Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. The two output deals are in addition to CM’s ongoing exclusive output deals with Media Asia Distribution Co., Ltd., Emperor Motion Picture, and Distribution Workshop (HK) Limited in those territories. 

MVP is headed by Wong Jing. Recent productions include Young and Dangerous: Reloaded, a new remake of the classic triad franchise and Princess and Seven Kung Fu Masters, a comedy with three generations of Hong Kong comedy stars. Upcoming productions include the highly anticipated casino-themed drama From Vegas to Macau, starring Chow Yun Fat, Nicholas Tse and Chapman To; and the comedies Mr. & Mrs. Player, directed by Wong Jing and starring Chapman To and Chrissie Chau; and Black Comedy, directed by Wilson Chin and starring Wong Cho Lam, Jim Chim and Kimmy Tong.

Universe, a subsidiary of Universe International Holdings Limited, has been producing Hong Kong and Chinese films since 2000. The company is headed by Daneil Lam Shiu-ming, a pioneer in the Hong Kong entertainment industry since he founded Universe Laser and Video, Co., Limited in 1986. Besides producing one of the biggest Chinese movie blockbusters of all time, Shaolin Soccer, Universe most recently produced the thriller Conspirators, directed by Oxide Pang and starring award-winning actors Aaron Kwok and Nick Cheung. Upcoming productions include Out of Inferno 3D, the first Asian 3D fire-fighting action adventure directed by the Pang Brothers and starring Louis Koo, Sean Lau and Lee Sinje; and the big budget action epic The White Storm, directed by Benny Chan and starring Sean Lau, Louis Koo, Nick Cheung, and veteran actor Lo Hoi Pang.

“We are very pleased to partner with Mega-Vision Project Workshop and Universe Entertainment exclusively on a broader level. Celestial Movies brings our viewers the biggest Chinese blockbusters and the biggest stars, first and exclusively, and the output from MVP and Universe ensures that we deliver on this promise,” said Ofanny Choi, Executive Vice President, TV Networks, Celestial Tiger Entertainment.

“We have had a long-standing relationship with Celestial Movies and I am glad to see it develop into a stronger partnership with this output deal. I am happy our star-driven line up of movies will premiere exclusively on one of the most widely distributed 24-hour Chinese movie channel in the world,” said, Angela Wong, General Manager, Mega-Vision Project Workshop Limited.

“We are much delighted to see the prosperous growth of Celestial Movies over the years and expand our relationship with such a distinguished and trustful partner. We believe with the unique strengths of Celestial Movies, we will achieve a successful distribution of film content across those regions” said Alvin Lam, Chief Operation Officer, Universe Entertainment Limited.