MUMBAI: US film and television entertainment company Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer has signed a new long-term agreement with the company extending his tenure until May 2018, effective immediately, the company has announced.

During Feltheimer?s 13 years as CEO, he and vice chairman Michael Burns have guided the company?s growth into a premier global entertainment company that has established a reputation for leadership not only in feature films and television shows but in creating and delivering content to digital platforms around the world.

Last year Lionsgate acquired Summit Entertainment, launched the global blockbuster ?Hunger Games? franchise and continued the growth and diversification of its television business, which encompasses 28 television series on 20 different networks including iconic and emerging brands such as ?Mad Men? and ? Weds?. Lionsgate?s market capitalisation has increased from $80 million to nearly $4 billion during Feltheimer?s tenure as CEO.

Lionsgate chairman of the board Dr. Mark Rachesky said, "We are pleased to make this early decision to extend Jon?s tenure as CEO until 2018, providing Lionsgate with extraordinary continuity as he and Michael Burns continue to grow the Company into a next generation global content leader.

"We believed in Jon?s early vision of how to best position Lionsgate to grow and adapt to a rapidly changing industry. He has successfully executed on a business plan which required discipline, patience and investment in all of the Company?s key business segments in order to create highly valuable content and long-term value for shareholders."

In addition to Feltheimer, vice chairman Michael Burns, co-COOs Steve Beeks and Brian Goldsmith and general counsel and chief strategic officer Wayne Levin have all signed new long-term agreements with the company during the past year.

MUMBAI: US film and television company Lionsgate has turned profitable in the fiscal third quarter compared to a loss in the year-ago period.

The company reported revenue of $743.6 million, EBITDA of $66.2 million, adjusted EBITDA of $87.2

million and net income of $37.8 million for the third quarter ended 31 December 2012 compared to net loss of $ 1.4 million in the prior year quarter.

For nine months, net income was $69.2 million compared to net loss of $ 16.4 million for the prior year period.

Revenue of $743.6 million in the third quarter increased by 130 per cent compared to $323.0 million in the prior year quarter, driven by the domestic theatrical box office performance of ?The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 2? and several other films, continued strong home entertainment and international revenue and increased pay television revenue.

EBITDA of $66.2 million and adjusted EBITDA of $87.2 million in the third quarter compared to EBITDA of $16.6 million and adjusted EBITDA of $27.3 million in the prior year quarter.

The company noted that, excluding the $14.7 million noncash expense for extinguishment of debt related to the early payment of the balance of the Summit term loan, net income as adjusted was $52.4 million or $0.39 per basic share.

Profitability and EBITDA growth in the third quarter compared to the prior year quarter was attributable to strong performances of the company?s theatrical, home entertainment and international businesses which more than offset increased marketing costs for a larger slate of films.

The company reported $125.2 million in free cash flow in the third quarter compared to free cash flow of negative $(37.0) million in the prior year quarter.

Revenue for the nine months ended 31 December 2012 was $1.92 billion revenue from ?The Hunger Games?, which was released on DVD and digital in August.

Television revenue included in motion picture revenue was $98.8 million in the third quarter, a fourfold increase from the prior year quarter driven by contributions from ?The Hunger Games?, ?The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn? Part 1? and ?Good Deeds?. International motion picture revenue of $89.5 million (excluding Lionsgate U.K.) for the third quarter increased six times over from the prior year quarter driven by the strong international theatrical performances of ?The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 2? and ?Step Up Revolutiom?.

Lionsgate U.K. revenue was $36.6 million, an increase of 120 per cent from the prior year quarter, on the strength of a theatrical slate driven by ?The Expendables 2? and ?What To Expect When You?re Expecting?, Lionsgate UK and third-party titles ?Magic Mike? and ?Keith Lemon: The Film? and the continued strong performance of ?The Hunger Games?.

Television production revenue was $70.1 million in the third quarter, a decline of 22 per cent compared to the prior year quarter, as strong international sales of ?Anger Management?, ?Mad Men? seasons 3, 4 and 5 and Weeds Season 8 were offset by revenue declines in domestic series licensing due to timing.