UPC Poland Becomes First Operator to Take Advantage of New Satellite Feed
MIPTV, Cannes, France – 13 April, 2010 – Strengthening the European reach of one of its valued brands, Rainbow Media will launch Sundance Channel on Eurobird 9a this week. The satellite feed-Sundance Channel’s first in Europe-opens the door to operators by providing another efficient, widely accessible option to carry the network. Sundance Channel is already transmitted in France and Belgium via fiber optic cable.
"The launch on Eurobird 9a represents a significant move forward in our international expansion strategy for Sundance Channel," said Ed Carroll, Chief Operating Officer, Rainbow Entertainment Services. "We have been in the market less than a year and response to the network has been strong. The brand has global resonance and distributors are eager to offer the channel to their viewers. This feed enables MSOs throughout Central Europe to carry the channel with the flip of a switch."
Rainbow Media introduced a similar feed in Asia late last year that has enabled Sundance Channel to launch in Singapore and Korea, with sister channel WE tv launching in Singapore, Korea and Hong Kong.
In addition, UPC Poland is set to be the first European operator to tap the Sundance Channel feed, with plans to launch the channel in Poland next month. UPC Poland is that country’s largest cable television operator, reaching over one million subscribers throughout Poland.
"Sundance Channel is home to independent, high quality film and documentary productions, thus we are pleased that our customers will be the first in Poland to appreciate its programming offer," said UPC Poland’s CEO, Simon Boyd.
Sundance Channel (www.sundancechannel.com)-channel 494-will launch on UPC Poland as a high-definition, 24/7 linear offering with a VOD companion. The English-language channel will feature Polish subtitling.
Under the creative direction of Robert Redford, Sundance Channel reaches more than 39 million subscribers in the U.S. in addition to its carriage in Europe and Asia. Its content is a diverse and engaging selection of films, documentaries and original programs.
UPC Poland viewers can tune in to watch critically lauded, award-winning independent films like "Mothers and Daughters" and "A Quiet Little Romance"; compelling documentaries like the Peabody Award-winning "Brick City" and "Cannes Moments"; and the critically acclaimed original environmental series "The Lazy Environmentalist."
About UPC Poland
UPC Polska is the leading provider of triple play services: television, broadband Internet and telephony for the private and B2B market. UPC has more than 2 million Polish households within the reach of its systems in 10 biggest agglomerations and a score of smaller locations. At the end of December 2009, UPC Polska had more than 1 million cable television customers, including 229 400 DTV clients, 460 600 Internet users and 183 900 telephony customers. UPC Polska is part of Liberty Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: LBTYA, LBTYB, LBTYK).
www.upc.pl
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media owns and operates some of the world’s most popular and award-winning entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv, Wedding Central and IFC Entertainment (IFC Center, IFC Festival Direct, IFC Films, IFC In Theaters and IFC Productions). Additional information about Rainbow Media’s multiplatform brands is available at www.rainbow-media.com.