Tuesday 2nd December
AXN
Sci-Fi signs Russia/CIA distribution deals with NTV Plus and Stream
Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI), has announced that AXN SCI-FI,
its dedicated science fiction channel which launched in Russia early this
year is now available in over two million households across the CIS. The
announcement follows the signing of recent distribution agreements with
digital satellite TV provider NTV Plus and with IPTV provider, Stream. The
announcement was made by Ross Hair, executive vice president, international
networks, SPTI.
Providing the best in U.S. and international science fiction entertainment,
AXN SCI-FI is the destination for bold, daring and extraordinary sci-fi,
supernatural, and fantasy entertainment with a compelling blend of programming
aimed at 12 to 49 year olds. AXN SCI-FI audiences in Russia have a broad
range of top-rated series and hit movies including the hugely popular LOST
which currently has Season Three airing throughout November. Also keenly
anticipated is the network premiere of Heroes in December, adding to an
already formidable line-up of must-see series such as the Stargate franchise,
Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Smallville and Supernatural.
Commenting, Hair said: "AXN SCI-FI continues to gain momentum in Russia
and the CIS countries, important new markets for our expanding channels
portfolio. We remain committed to providing the best in sci-fi entertainment
to audiences in the region and although this is still early days for us
here, we are delighted with the support we have received from operators
and viewers so far."
Since launch in December 2007, SPTI has negotiated carriage of AXN SCI-FI
with multiple operators throughout Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
The company continues to seek out other carriage opportunities for the channel
both within and outside Russia. SPTI recently appointed Sergey Plotnikov
as General Manager to oversee its networks business in the region, based
at SPTI’s offices in Moscow.
AXN SCI-FI is the science fiction themed extension of the highly successful
general entertainment and action network, AXN, which has a well-established
presence around the world and which, in Central and Eastern Europe alone,
reaches over 14 million subscribers.
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Asian
News International signs multi-platform global representation deal with
ITN
ITN Source has signed an exclusive representation deal with Asian News International
(ANI), to license its content across all platforms globally. ANI has the
most comprehensive compilation of footage from South Asia including the
Asian Films library which dates back to the late 1930s.
ANI will sit within ITN Source’s current collection which totals one
million hours and includes the Granada, Reuters, Channel 4, British Pathe,
FOX Movietone and UTV archives. The addition of ANI will give TV, film,
education, corporate customers a greater selection of South Asian footage
to choose from for their projects.
ANI footage is gathered from over 100 bureaux in India and South Asia and
comprises news, entertainment, lifestyle, business, sports, science and
quirky content. The collection includes memorable footage from India's freedom
movement, the birth of economic reforms and the wedding of Sonia Gandhi
with Rajiv Gandhi. ITN Source has digitised 5000 of the most popular clips
which can now be downloaded in broadcast quality from www.itnsource.com.
Sanjiv Prakash, CEO, Asian News International said: “ITN Source is
a one-stop shop for broadcast footage and home to some the most defining
moments in history caught on camera. We believe ANI is a strong addition
to the ITN Source collection and look forward to sharing our unique footage
with a global audience.”
Asha Oberoi, Content Director, ITN Source added: “We’re delighted
to have ANI on board. We've been looking to build up our Asian content for
some time and ANI is the perfect partner with its mix of news, Bollywood
and unusual videos. The addition of ANI significantly expands the global
content base we represent and will deliver even greater value to our customers’
content needs.”
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