The WB, VH1 to share 8 Mile

By Paige Albiniak
( Broadcasting & Cable )
published

The WB Television Network and VH1 will share the first window to Academy Award-winning
movie 8 Mile, starring hip-hop star Eminem.

According to the deal, VH1 has rights to air the film first, in April 2005,
with The WB free to run the movie in the 2005-06 TV season.

"8 Mile is an ideal movie for The WB, delivering the creative quality,
honesty and integrity that viewers expect from our dramas and comedies," said
Rusty Mintz, senior vice president of prime-time scheduling.

"Eminem is a major
force in pop culture and music and has a strong appeal to our viewers. Acquiring
his highly regarded film debut is a natural fit for our 'Movies That Rock'
franchise," said Ben Zurier, VH1’s senior VP of programming
strategy.

8 Mile is produced by Universal Pictures, directed by Curtis Hanson and executive-produced by Brian Grazer.

Paige Albiniak
Paige Albiniak

Contributing editor Paige Albiniak has been covering the business of television for more than 25 years. She is a longtime contributor to Next TV, Broadcasting + Cable and Multichannel News. She concurrently serves as editorial director for The Global Entertainment Marketing Academy of Arts & Sciences (G.E.M.A.). She has written for such publications as TVNewsCheck, The New York Post, Variety, CBS Watch and more. Albiniak was B+C’s Los Angeles bureau chief from September 2002 to 2004, and an associate editor covering Congress and lobbying for the magazine in Washington, D.C., from January 1997 - September 2002.