FRANCE IN THE NEWS

CRTC grants licences to Canal Fiction and Canal Histoire
(Canada Newswire)

TORONTO, 05/21/99

Michael MacMillan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ALLIANCE ATLANTIS COMMUNICATIONS INC. today welcomed the decision from Canada's broadcasting regulator, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), to grant broadcast licences to two French- language services: Canal Fiction and Canal Histoire. ALLIANCE ATLANTIS and Astral Communications each owns 50 per cent of Canal Fiction and Canal Histoire, with Astral, located in Montreal, as the managing partner of the networks.

"Today's decision by the CRTC is wonderful news for Alliance Atlantis, and directly in line with the Company's overall strategic direction to expand our broadcasting division beyond our four existing networks. The licensing of these two new networks means that Alliance Atlantis, in partnership with Astral, will bring French-language viewers in Quebec and the rest of Canada the best in documentary and dramatic programming," said Mr. MacMillan. It is expected that the networks will be launched in January 2000.

Canal Fiction will offer a wealth of first-rate dramatic programming from Canada and around the world including a variety of critically acclaimed international dramas and a wide selection of world-class movies. Offering a unique perspective in the French language, Canal Histoire explores the people, trends and events that have shaped the world around us. Canal Histoire will feature a comprehensive and entertaining combination of historical documentaries, films and original programming from Canada and around the world.

ALLIANCE ATLANTIS COMMUNICATIONS INC. is a leading international creator and distributor of filmed entertainment with significant ownership of Canadian television channels including HGTV (Home & Garden Television) Canada, History Television, Life Network, and Showcase, and is also the exclusive sponsor of Food Network in Canada. In addition, Alliance Atlantis has a partnership interest in a VOD (Video-on-Demand) licence. Headquartered in Toronto, Alliance Atlantis operates offices in Los Angeles, Montreal, Vancouver, London, Sydney and Shannon. The Company's shares trade on the Toronto and Montreal exchanges under the symbols AAC.A, AAC.B and on NASDAQ under AACB.

(Copyright Canada Newswire)
{A1:CanadaNewswire-0521.02614} 05/21/99

 

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