John McMahon has been promoted to Senior Executive Vice President, Managing Director for Sony Pictures Television International's European operations. The announcement was made today by Michael Grindon, President, Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI).

Since taking charge of SPTI's European activities in 1998, McMahon has successfully expanded the core lines of business for the company across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He has built SPTI's licensing operation to continually achieve record-breaking sales levels each year and under his leadership, the studio has expanded its international networks opportunities throughout Europe. McMahon has also been instrumental in the strong growth of SPTI's international productions business in Germany, Italy, France, Spain and the UK In addition, McMahon is the liaison for coordinating all European television activities with other Sony sister divisions including Sony Electronics and Sony PlayStation.

In making the announcement, Grindon stated: "No matter how diverse the challenge, John has succeeded at every turn. John has provided the dynamic leadership required to keep each of our business lines focused on its individual goals and objectives while delivering all to the same final, and winning, destination. His talent and effectiveness as a manager has succeeded in making our European operations run seamlessly. As we look to invest in future European businesses, John will take the lead for all investment opportunities for SPTI."

McMahon stated: "Michael has built a team of top professionals that, together, uniquely position SPTI as a market leader in the international television industry. I'm happy to be part of that team and to be recognised as someone who will help take the company to that next level of success as we further grow and expand our European and other international activities."

Among McMahon's objectives in his new role are to develop and augment international synergies among the various Sony divisions. McMahon will be looking to drive greater opportunities to exploit Sony's family of companies throughout the international productions, program distribution and the networks operations.

Since his relocation to London and his promotion to Executive Vice President in 1998, and his assumption of the Managing Director, Europe position in 1999, McMahon has guided SPTI's three lines of international business -- licensing, local production and international networks -- to tremendous growth and expansion.

SPTI is now producing over 500 hours of local television programming for the European marketplace. While Germany continues to be the studio's most successful market, with six series on the air, SPTI has also made strides in establishing itself in the UK marketplace with series placed on Channel 4 ("As If") and the BBC ("Rockface"). These local productions have found a growing audience in the various territories where they are produced, but equally important, have also proven to be popular with audiences in other countries. "As If," originally produced for the UK, has replicated its success in Spain, France and Scandinavia.

Under McMahon's leadership, Sony's channel investment has expanded throughout Europe, including the wholly owned AXN brand in Spain, Israel and more recently, Portugal. Additionally, McMahon has overseen the launch of Sony Entertainment Television Asia and CineNova, the premium pay movie service, in Holland and Belgium. He is also credited with expanding the HBO platform in Eastern Europe to include program services in Poland, Romania and Bulgaria.

In the distribution arena, McMahon directed the team credited with selling Sony Pictures Entertainment's (SPE) highest grossing feature film slate to European pay and free TV clients, as well as the marketing team which oversaw the European launch campaigns for such high profile US network series as the critically acclaimed "The Shield" starring Emmy Award-winner Michael Chiklis and the long-running international hit, "Dawson's Creek."

A 12-year veteran of SPTI, McMahon joined SPE in 1990, serving as Vice President, International Legal Affairs, Sony Pictures Entertainment before being named Senior Vice President, Sales Planning for the company's international television division. In this position, McMahon oversaw the division's free television and basic cable licensing activities worldwide. McMahon received a joint JD/MBA degree from the University of Southern California and earned his B.S. degree in Business from the University of California at Berkeley.

About Sony Pictures Television International

Sony Pictures Television International continues to expand its worldwide distribution capabilities and leverage its motion picture and television library assets with broadcasters around the world. SPTI's international networks are a key strategy in the Company's long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with over 30 channels reaching more than 140 million viewers worldwide. A major distributor of quality entertainment, SPTI also recognises the need for localised content. With dedicated offices in Brazil, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom, SPTI currently oversees production in nine countries, yielding some 2,300 hours of television. SPTI is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

About Sony Pictures Entertainment

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a division of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com .

For further information, please contact: Jeff Pryor of Pryor & Associates - Los Angeles, +1-818-382-2233, jeff@pryorpr.com, or Marylou Johnston of Pryor & Associates - Europe, +33-6-87-77-4989, maryloujohnston@aol.com, both for Sony Pictures Television International.

Web site: http://www.sonypictures.com

SOURCE Sony Pictures Television International