SERIES OF NEW DEALS WILL OFFER WIDER ACCESS TO SUNDANCE CHANNEL LINEAR AND ON-DEMAND SERVICES ACROSS EUROPE
New York, NY – 5 March 2012 – AMC/Sundance Channel Global, AMC Networks’ international division, and Liberty Global, Inc., the largest cable company outside the U.S. and one of the fastest growing in the world, today announced several new deals with Liberty Global affiliates across Europe including launches on Focus Sat in Romania, UPC in Hungary and expanded carriage on Telenet. These deals follow fast on the heels of the announcement made earlier this month that Sundance Channel will be launching in the Netherlands in March in partnership with Film 1, Benelux’s leading film channel bouquet, and a programming service of Liberty Global’s Chellomedia division.
In addition to the recent deal in the Netherlands, Liberty Global and AMC/Sundance Channel will add new dimensions to the companies’ strategic relationship with the launch of Sundance Channel for the first time in Romania, while further expanding Sundance Channel’s growing distribution in Hungary with a launch on Liberty Global’s UPC cable system in that country. AMC/Sundance Channel Global also announced today an expanded distribution agreement in Belgium with Telenet, a leading provider of broadband cable services. The agreement will enable Sundance Channel to be seen in 1.4 million homes.
In Romania, Sundance Channel with launch on Liberty Global’s DTH platform, Focus Sat. Additional carriage in Hungary has also been made possible through UPC, the largest cable television operator in Hungary. This agreement complements the launch of Sundance Channel in Hungary on Liberty Global’s UPC DTH service in Hungary last summer. In Belgium, Sundance Channel is available as a 24/7 linear television service in standard and high definition on Telenet on channel 25 in Flemish and on channel 159 in French. Previously, the network was seen on Telenet in Brussels.
“This growing, multi-faceted relationship with Liberty Global reflects the burgeoning demand for Sundance Channel’s high quality film and series content, including key hits such as Mad Men and the Walking Dead, as well as the illustrious Sundance brand,” commented Bruce Tuchman, President of AMC/Sundance Channel Global. “We are grateful to Liberty Global and its many leading edge distribution platforms, which will allow us to offer audiences even wider access to Sundance Channel across numerous markets and through both linear and on-demand services.”
“We are happy with the initial subscriber reaction and pleased to expand our relationship with AMC/Sundance Channel Global,” said Bob Leighton, Senior Vice President Programming of Liberty Global, “We are looking forward to working with AMC Networks as they build the Sundance brand globally as they did in the US market to stand for the best in independent film.”
Sundance Channel can already be seen across Europe on numerous services owned or backed by Liberty Global. The network has been available on UPC Polska, the largest cable television operator in Poland, since 2010. Sundance Channel is available as a high definition linear channel with Polish subtitles as well as via UPC Polska’s state-of-the-art on-demand service. Sundance Channel On-Demand has a dedicated user interface where UPC subscribers can search across title, actor, descriptions and genre categories. Sundance Channel also creates banners for the branded user interface promoting specific films and programs to viewers. In addition to Hungary, Sundance Channel is seen on UPC Direct’s DTH service in the Czech and Slovak Republics, where the network launched last summer as an HD linear channel.
Today’s news follows the announcement from the Sundance Film Festival of a wide array of new European and Asian carriage deals for Sundance Channel coming out of the holiday season. This includes the launch for the first time in Portugal with ZON Multimédia, the country’s biggest pay-TV operator, as well as increased distribution in Belgium with Belgacom TV, in Poland with SGT S.A., in France with Virgin and in Taiwan with Veetime. In addition, an HD version of Sundance Channel has launched in Spain on Telefonica’s Movistar Imagenio platform.
Established by Robert Redford, Sundance Channel offers audiences a diverse and engaging selection of award-winning independent films, documentaries and original programs. It is available to Pay TV operators as a standard and high definition linear television channel, VOD service and via mobile and online authenticated streaming. Additionally, select VOD program offerings are available during theatrical windows so audiences can watch films that are still in theatres from the comfort of their own homes. AMC/Sundance Channel Global also offers WE tv in Asia, a women’s lifestyle network.
About Sundance Channel
Dedicated to founder Robert Redford’s mission to celebrate creativity, Sundance Channel is the television destination for independent-minded viewers seeking something different. Bold, imaginative and uncompromising, Sundance Channel offers audiences a diverse and engaging selection of high-quality independent films, documentaries and original programs. In addition to being widely distributed throughout the U.S., Sundance Channel is available throughout Europe and Asia. Owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc., Sundance Channel is a highly recognizable and magnetic brand that is available in HD and across multiple platforms.
About AMC Networks Inc.
Dedicated to producing quality programming and movie content for more than 30 years, AMC Networks Inc. (Nasdaq: AMCX) owns and operates several of the most popular and award-winning brands in cable television. AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv, and IFC Films produce and deliver distinctive, compelling and culturally relevant content that engages audiences across multiple platforms. The company also operates AMC/Sundance Channel Global, an international programming business, and AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology, a full-service network programming origination and distribution company.
About Liberty Global, Inc.
Liberty Global is the leading international cable operator offering advanced video, voice and broadband internet services to connect its customers to the world of entertainment, communications and information. As of December 31, 2011, Liberty Global’s continuing businesses operated state-of-the-art networks serving 20 million customers across 13 countries principally located in Europe and Chile. Liberty Global’s operations also include significant programming businesses such as Chellomedia in Europe.