Sundance Channel Launches into New International Markets and Accelerates Growing International Footprint
Network Breaks New Ground in Key European and Asian Markets
Busy Year End 2011 and Heightened Activity for 2012 Fuelled by
Access to Hit Programming, High Quality Independent-Minded Films
and Multi-Device, TV Everywhere Access
Park City, Utah – 26 January 2012 – AMC/Sundance Channel Global, AMC Networks’ international division, marked its arrival at the Sundance Film Festival today with a burst of new deals coming out of the holiday season. The company has signed breakthrough agreements with premier Pay TV platforms across multiple key markets in Europe and Asia for new launches of its international television networks and video-on-demand (VOD) services.
Demonstrating both its rapid expansion and the growing demand for its unique brand and programming, Sundance Channel has recently secured additional carriage and is launching for the first time in Portugal while gaining increased distribution through new deals with key cable and broadband systems in Belgium, Poland, France and Taiwan.
Robert Redford, Founder of Sundance Channel, stated, “It has long been a hope of mine that audiences internationally could experience the creativity and great filmmaking that comes out of Sundance, so I am happy to see the expansion of Sundance Channel Global. Our programming is designed to be inspiring and broaden people’s perspectives and I’m looking forward to the channel’s continued international growth over the coming year.”
As announced by Bruce Tuchman, President of AMC/Sundance Channel Global, Sundance Channel ended the year with a first time ever launch in Portugal with ZON Multimédia, Portugal’s biggest Pay TV Operator, and is being broadcast in HD and versioned into Portuguese.
It was also announced that Sundance Channel in Belgium is now available on the country’s leading IPTV service, Belgacom TV, which is owned by the country’s largest telecommunications company, Belgacom Group. The Belgian Sundance Channel is also subtitled into versions for both the country’s Flemish and French speakers, and has been made available since 2010 to cable subscribers through the country’s biggest cable TV provider, Liberty Global backed Telenet.
In Poland, the Channel launched on 1 January on IPTV service, SGT S.A., with a 24/7 HD linear broadcast complete with Polish subtitles.
Virgin in France plans to add Sundance Channel to its Virgin Box. Customers will be able to watch a French versioned 24/7 HD channel. Other French consumers already have access to Sundance Channel via Free, Numericable and SFR, among other outlets.
In Asia, the channel is launching on Veetime in Taiwan as a 24/7 linear offering with Mandarin subtitles which represents the third key local platform to carry the channel following deals in the second half of 2011 with the country’s leading IPTV provider, Chunghwa Telecom, as well as Dish TV’s DTH system in Taiwan.
In a follow up to a major deal secured with Telefonica of Spain in 2011, Tuchman also announced today that an HD version of its localized Sundance Channel will launch in Spain in mid-January which will be available in addition to the standard definition of the Channel which launched across the country in the fall of last year.
“These new distribution partnerships reflect the strong appetite for high quality, globally renowned entertainment from audiences and content distributors alike,” said Tuchman. “We are thrilled to offer the outstanding programming of Sundance Channel and WE tv on a wide variety of cutting edge multimedia platforms all over the world and have been especially proud of the performance of the key films that we have offered to our Pay TV subscribers on an on-demand basis during these films’ theatrical exhibition windows.”
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 in the comfort of their own home while films are still in theatres. AMC/Sundance Channel Global also offers WE tv in Asia, a women’s lifestyle network.
Among Sundance Channel and WE tv’s distinctive offerings, upcoming highlights include a wide range of new productions and acclaimed series to debut in 2012. The programs reinforce the company’s commitment to offering high quality programming to international audiences across multiple platforms.
Hit series and cultural phenomenon “The Walking Dead” recently premiered in France and French-speaking Belgium. Next up, “Hell on Wheels,” the epic new drama series about the American West, will debut exclusively on Sundance Channel in high definition in select countries starting 2 February. The 10-episode, one-hour series follows the construction of the transcontinental railroad just after the American Civil War. The US premiere on Sundance Channel’s sister network AMC was recently renewed for a second season and its premiere episode attracted 4.4 million viewers, becoming the network’s second highest original series premiere in its history. February also welcomes the premiere of two critically acclaimed and award-winning independent films “Bellflower” and “The Matador” in select territories. Later this year, Sundance Channel will premiere critic and audience favorite “Breaking Bad” in countries throughout Asia, and “The Slap” in countries throughout Europe and Asia. “Mad Men” will continue to be seen by a worldwide audience, and in multiple languages, on our channels in select territories throughout the world.
On WE tv Asia, “Shannen Says” premieres later this year. Showcasing Doherty’s relationship with photographer Kurt Iswarienko, viewers will witness the challenging, comical, and dramatic moments that ensue when two people – with two different backgrounds – come together, bringing along their own sets of opinionated friends and family. Their complicated, and often hilarious, journey also includes wedding preparations, a house tragedy that may end in lawsuits, and the next chapter of Doherty’s burgeoning acting career.
About Sundance Channel Global
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. Sundance Channel Global 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.