Network Entertainment Announces Joint Venture with Fashion Icon John Varvatos to Produce Premium Content

VANCOUVER, March 23, 2018 /CNW/ - Network Media Group Inc. (TSX: NTE.V) (OTCMKTS: NMGGF) and Network Entertainment Inc. ("Network" or "the Company") is pleased to announce a joint venture with legendary menswear designer and global entrepreneur John Varvatos to create original content for television and film focusing on the worlds of music, fashion, and pop culture. Varvatos is now expanding his brand into filmed entertainment and related products in this collective with acclaimed producer Derik Murray and his company Network Entertainment. The mission of the partnership is to create premium content that will be distributed globally on multiple platforms and will be designed to feature complementary merchandising, publishing, sponsorship, and special event opportunities.

"My lifelong passion with music, and the eclectic style of the many artists I admire, was the catalyst for my interest in fashion, and my love of film and photography is a natural extension of my spirit of creativity," stated John Varvatos. "The opportunity to partner with Derik Murray in creating and delivering unparalleled content to a global audience ensures that our collaborations will be crafted with superior quality that is the hallmark of Network Entertainment's work, which in turn delivers the foundation to co-create works of lasting importance that speak directly to my ambitions."

Since launching his brand in 2000 after beginning his career with stints at Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein, John Varvatos has carved out an influential place in the landscape of American Design. With a brand that now encompasses an entire lifestyle, from clothing to jewelry, fragrance, and beyond, he has been recognized multiple times as Designer of the Year from the most prestigious fashion organizations of the world, including the Council of Fashion Designers of America and GQ. In addition to being the Founder & Chief Creative Officer of John Varvatos Ent., John continues to pursue his love of music, most illustrated by the founding of John Varvatos Records in 2014 along with co-hosting the annual LOVE ROCKS NYC!, a benefit concert for New York based God's Love We Deliver.

Varvatos infuses all of his work with creative spirit and intrinsic edge that has elevated his collections, which  includes a sensibility perfectly aligned with award-winning filmmaker and Network founder and C.E.O Derik Murray as they embark on this collaboration. Murray will bring his brand of iconic storytelling to the partnership, which has inspired Network's roster of films on the world's most celebrated icons that consistently sets record ratings and has been recognized by the most prestigious bodies in the industry, including the Academy Awards and the Emmys.

"John Varvatos' artistic and cultural sensibility is deeply rooted in music, freedom of expression and old world quality, which he has harnessed in the formation of a global menswear brand with a DNA that is an authentic extension of John's creativity," added Derik Murray. "The opportunity to collaborate with John Varvatos has quickly inspired a slate of projects in development that we are both excited and honored to co-create together."

One of the first projects to be developed on the Varvatos and Network Entertainment slate, is a series based upon Varvatos' bestselling book, John Varvatos: Rock in Fashion. There will be additional announcements for new projects coming soon.

About Network
Network Media Group is the parent company of Network Entertainment Inc.
Network Entertainment, founded and headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, produces premium content for global audiences. Network's documentaries and docu-series showcase the lives of the world's most inspiring cultural icons and their endearing legacy. Our films have featured a compelling lineup of icons from the worlds of Music, Movies, Comedy, Sports, Politics and Business. The Network premium brand of programming features outstanding casts and highly cinematic, richly crafted storytelling. Our productions are consistently embraced by both popular and critical acclaim garnering awards, record ratings and unparalleled media coverage.

Network's broadcast and distribution partners include: AHC, AMC, Discovery, CBC, CMT, CTV, Entertainment One, FremantleMedia, HBO Canada, History Channel, iTunes, Lionsgate, National Geographic, Paramount Network, Spike, Sundance TV, Thunderbird and TMN. Our work has been recognized by the Academy Awards, The Emmys, Realscreen Awards, The Gemini's, The Leo's, the Los Angeles Film Festival, Washington D.C. Silver Docs, Seattle International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Hawaii International Film Festival, Houston International Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, Banff Television Festival, and the International Film and Television Festival of New York. 

For additional information on Network Entertainment Inc., visit www.networkentertainment.ca

About John Varvatos
Launched in 2000 with a collection of tailored clothing and sportswear, John Varvatos now represents an entire men's lifestyle that includes footwear, bags, belts, eyewear, limited edition watches, men's fragrances, and the John Varvatos Star USA Collection.  The designer has been recognized three times by the CFDA with an American Fashion Award for New Menswear Designer (June 2000) and Menswear Designer of the Year (June 2001 and June 2005) and was honored as GQ's "Designer of the Year" in 2007.  In October 2013, John released his first book entitled John Varvatos: Rock in Fashion, which documents the elements of rock style that are intrinsic in the music community. Further rooting the brand in music, John Varvatos formally launched John Varvatos Records in February 2014.  In 2015, John received several accolades including Most Innovative at MR Magazine's MR Awards Honoring Game Changers in the Menswear Industry, the Cultural Icon Award at the T.J. Martell Foundation's 40th Anniversary Gala, the ACE Award for Designer of the Year given by the Accessories Council, and the Fashion Cares award given by the Samuel Waxman Foundation.  In 2016, John was awarded Footwear News' ICON Award for Social Impact for his conscience charitable work with The Stuart House Foundation and God's Love We Deliver.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. 

Cautionary Statement on Forward-looking Information
Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including the Company not obtaining required TSX Venture Exchange approval of the Transaction and the Transaction not being completed as proposed or at all. These statements are necessarily based upon management's perceptions, beliefs, assumptions and expectations, as well as a number of specific factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management of the Company as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies that could result in the forward-looking information ultimately, perhaps materially, being incorrect. All forward looking information in this news release involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are beyond the control of the Company and may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking information. Except as required pursuant to applicable securities laws, the Company will not update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

SOURCE Network Entertainment Group Inc.

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