Press Releases

Sony Pictures Television Brings Local Language Versions of Hit Comedy
Everybody Loves Raymond To Poland and Israel

CULVER CITY, USA / CANNES, FRANCE (April 3, 2011)--Sony Pictures Television (SPT) announced today that it has sold local language versions of the hit US comedy Everybody Loves Raymond in Israel and Poland. Following the success of the series in Russia, known there as The Voronins, SPT has sold 30 episodes of the Emmy® Award-winning comedy to TVN in Poland, and 33 episodes to Reshet in Israel. SPT will jointly produce both versions.

"We're thrilled to extend our successful track record of producing quality local language scripted programs with the universally-themed and universally funny Everybody Loves Raymond," said Jeff Lerner, senior vice president, international scripted development and production, SPT. "With the expertise of our producers and the talented local producers joining forces, we're certain viewers in Poland and Israel will soon love Raymond as much as we do!"

"We fell in love with Raymond as Everybody did! After a great experience with SPT on 'The Nanny,' we're looking forward to another successful show," said Dariusz Gąsiorowski, Head of TVN's Drama and Feature Production Department. "The original version, with its universal humor and memorable characters, offers us the unique opportunity to create an amazing show. We hope that our viewers will have as much fun watching it as we will while adapting it, preparing the production and being in the process."

"We are very excited to be selected by Sony Pictures Television to produce and broadcast Everybody Loves Raymond in Israel," said Ilan de Vries, VP content for "Reshet" channel 2 in Israel. "This is the first time in the history of Israeli television that such a successful program of this magnitude will be launched. We are sure that everybody in Israel will love the show."

Raymond revolves around Ray Barone, a successful writer living with his wife, Debra, his 12-year-old daughter and his 8-year-old twin sons. Ray's meddling parents, Frank and Marie, live directly across the street and manage to infiltrate their son's home to an unparalleled extent. Frank makes himself at home and Marie's cooking and cleaning "advice" is less than appreciated by Debra. Ray's brother, Robert, a police sergeant, has finally moved out of his parents' house and married Debra's best friend, Amy, making the mix even more entertaining--except to Ray and Debra, who just wish someone would knock before entering.

SPT is currently producing 210 episodes of The Voronins for CTC in Russia, where it is the number one comedy in the country. This follows a long history of successful local language scripted series based on US formats, including Married….with Children, of which the company has produced versions of all 250 original episodes and is currently working on 100 additional new episodes for TNT in Russia.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES TELEVISION
Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry's leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment around the world and for every platform: broadcast and cable television, first-run and off-network syndication and digital distribution. In addition to one of the industry's largest libraries of feature films and television shows, SPT boasts a current program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. Internationally, SPT is a leader in local language productions around the world, some of which are co-produced with local partners, and sells SPE-owned formats in approximately 70 countries. To better serve its clients and partners worldwide, SPT maintains offices throughout the world, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, the People's Republic of China, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Venezuela and the United Kingdom. SPT's worldwide television networks portfolio is a key strategy in SPE's long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with 132 channel feeds, which are available in more than 142 countries reaching more than 500 million households worldwide. SPT also creates original content for and manages SPE's premium video website, Crackle. Additionally, SPT owns Dutch entertainment company 2waytraffic, production company Embassy Row and Sony Movie Channel, and is a part owner of cable channel GSN, new 3D channel 3net, FEARnet, the premier horror/thriller website and VOD service, and national media sales company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT advertiser sales is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial inventory in SPT's syndicated series as well as in all of SPE's digital businesses in the United States. SPT (www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Mark Macdonald -
Executive Director, Corporate Communications
Sony Pictures Television
Email: mark_macdonald@spe.sony.com
Tel: +44 (0)20 7533 1363