Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. is in negotiations to sell its 31.2% stake in EPIX / EPIX Drive-In (US) to the joint venture's other partners, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. and Viacom Inc.'s Paramount, Reuters reported Jan. 26, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

Paramount owns about 50% of Epix, while MGM owns about 19%. Lions Gate was expected to sell its EPIX stake after it agreed to acquire Starz in a deal worth about $4.4 billion.

Any resultant deal could reportedly value the network between $1 billion and $2 billion, the people added. There is a probability that MGM and Viacom become 50-50 partners in EPIX, the people reportedly said, adding that there is no guarantee a deal will materialize.