New York, New York – AMC Networks Inc has announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of Chellomedia, the international content division of Liberty Global for €750 million (approximately US$1.035 billion). The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014.
The acquisition provides AMC Networks with an array of television channels that are distributed to more than 390 million households in 138 countries. The channels span a range of genres including movie and entertainment networks, providing long-range opportunities for AMC Networks to distribute its original programming from AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel and WE tv globally.
The acquisition builds on the company’s existing international programming business, AMC/ Sundance Channel Global, which has experienced impressive growth over the past five years and will continue to deliver AMC Networks’ content to its global distribution partners.
“Chellomedia has developed a remarkable portfolio of popular channels that reach hundreds of millions around the world. As AMC Networks has expanded internationally, we have had a great desire to do something we consider fundamentally strategic, which is to take our content and put it on channels we own. This acquisition allows us to secure a large, global platform on which to distribute our increasingly successful original programming through a collection of strong, well-established and well-managed assets worldwide,” said Josh Sapan, President and CEO of AMC Networks. “Together, we can grow these assets and make them even more popular and valuable around the world.”
Chellomedia President Niall Curran said, “AMC Networks are content professionals with an excellent creative and business track record. They are highly enthusiastic about the business we have built at Chellomedia and are ambitious to develop it further, making AMC Networks a great owner and partner for Chello’s next phase of growth.”
Chellomedia’s portfolio of channels include Canal Hollywood,CBS, America Sports,BIGGS, Buzz, Film&Arts, Horror Channel and several other channels.
