Herbert Kloiber, top-seeder of Teutonic media conglom Tele Munchen, has marked a big-term TV permitting conformity with MGM for the free television, German-language rights to Tom Cruise's upcoming suspenser "Valkyrie" as well as an unspecified number of other United Artist and MGM theatrical pics, MGM telefilms and straight-to-video titles.  No financial details were available, but Germany is one of the most lucrative territories abroad for the major Hollywood studios, so observers are reckoning the deal is in the tens of millions of dollars. It is thought to run for three years - reports Variety.
Accord is the first major licensing arrangement put together by MGM co-prexy of Worldwide TV Gary Marenzi, who rejoined the Lion in mid-May. Agreement encompasses future movie output from MGM and UA, including the 22nd film in MGM's James Bond franchise, which will star Daniel Craig; a new installment of comedy franchise "The Pink Panther," with Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau; and the first release under Cruise and Paula Wagner's management of the UA studio, "Lions for Lambs," directed by Robert Redford.