a2 Lionsgate International has signed international format deals for its latest reality series, entitled Kicking & Screaming, which will premier on Fox in March. The international deal came in two months ahead of what Lionsgate was projecting. The rights have been licensed to the international production group, Banijay, and the rights will cover Sweden, France, Denmark, Italy and Norway. Lionsgate is a vertically integrated next generation global content leader with a diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, premium pay television networks, home entertainment, global distribution and sales, interactive ventures and games and location-based entertainment. With the acquisition of Starz, Lionsgate adds to its portfolio of businesses the flagship STARZ premium pay network serving nearly 25 million subscribers and the STARZENCORE platform with over 31 million subscribers. The combined company will operate five over-the-top (OTT) streaming services and the Starz app delivering content directly to consumers. Global head of Acquisitions for Banijay, Carlotta Rossi said that, "Kicking & Screaming is the kind of truly entertaining, large scale adventure series which Banijay's locally based teams produce so well. Our broadcast clients are reassured by our first-hand experience in creating successful big formats such as Fort Boyard and 71 Degrees North, and we look forward to bringing this exciting new reality concept to European audiences." a1 Kicking & Screaming teams 10 expert survivalists with pampered partners to face the toughest challenges of their lives. From executive producer Matt Kunitz (Wipeout, Fear Factor), in association with Lionsgate Television, and hosted by Hannah Simone (New Girl), the comedic competition series drops these unlikely duos into a tropical jungle in Fiji, where they must team together not only to brave obstacles, adversity and the elements… but to survive each other. To win the competition and a cash prize, the experts will have to drag their partners, Kicking & Screaming, to the finish line. Lionsgate President of International Television & Digital Distribution, Peter Iacono. said of the deal that, "The format deals for Kicking & Screaming with world-class partners Banijay and Sony reflect the tremendous international demand for what we expect to become a global reality brand. We're delighted to entrust this incredible property to the talented and experienced creative teams of the leading producers in each of these territories. We're confident that the show is in great hands." One of the largest independent television businesses in the world, Lionsgate's slate of premium quality series encompasses nearly 90 shows on more than 40 different networks. These include the ground-breaking Orange is the New Black, the fan favorite Nashville, the syndication success The Wendy Williams Show, the acclaimed drama The Royals, the Golden Globe-nominated Casual, the breakout success Greenleaf and hit Starz series including Outlander, Black Sails, Survivor's Remorse and Power, the second highest-rated premium pay television series of 2016.