MUMBAI: Buena Vista International Television - Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP) has concluded a multi-year licensing agreement with Zee Network, for its newly re-branded English movie channel - Zee Studio.

The agreement will include an extensive range of library and TV film offerings from accomplished studios such as Touchstone Pictures, Spyglass Entertainment, Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Hollywood Pictures. Titles will include Pretty Woman starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, Shanghai Noon with international action hero Jackie Chan, Mission to Mars directed by Brian De Palma and Bill Murray in What About Bob?.

The deal was announced by BVITV-AP senior VP Steve Macallister and Zee Café, Zee Studio, Trendz and MX Channels business head Ajay Trigunayat. For BVITV-AP, the agreement was negotiated by India head Amit Malhotra, says a company release.

Commenting on the announcement, Macallister said, "We are delighted to be establishing this new partnership with Zee TV. Zee Studio is a popular destination for Indian viewers of Hollywood movies and will be an excellent showcase for our wide range of internationally successful features. We are confident this line-up will add great value to their schedules and to the continued success of Zee Studio.

Trigunayat added, "This agreement comes at a time when Zee Studio is looking to satiate the tremendous appetite that the Indian market has for entertainment. Our first-ever multi-year deal with a major Hollywood studio represents our commitment to bringing the best content to Indian audiences. We are pleased to be partnering with BVITV who have had longstanding success at the international box office in delivering movies that appeal to a broad audience."