London and New York – Viacom Inc. and Northern & Shell Media Group announced a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited by Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) for £450 million (approximately US$757 million) on May 1. The transaction brings Viacom one of British television’s biggest brands, and the only commercial public service broadcaster to consistently grow viewership share in recent years. Channel 5’s diverse … [Read more...] about Viacom to acquire Channel 5 Broadcasting
acquisition
AMC/Sundance Channel Global to acquire German pay-TV channel
New York, NY / Frankfurt, Germany – AMC/Sundance Channel Global, a division of AMC Networks Inc., has reached an agreement to acquire KinoweltTV, a basic pay-TV channel distributed throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The 24/7 linear network airs a high quality array of classic and contemporary films. The acquisition expands AMC/Sundance Channel Global’s European presence with full distribution across all platforms in German speaking Europe. The transaction is subject to the … [Read more...] about AMC/Sundance Channel Global to acquire German pay-TV channel
FremantleMedia acquires “Who Lives Here?”
MIPFORMATS, Cannes – FremantleMedia is bringing a new format to MIPTV, having acquired the global production rights (excluding North America) to Who Lives Here? – a new competitive property format from Canadian production company, 3Bird Media. Who Lives Here? combines our love of snooping around other people’s houses and our pre-conceptions about people based on first appearances. In each episode, five strangers tour each other’s homes together and try to work out who … [Read more...] about FremantleMedia acquires “Who Lives Here?”
MIPTV: Grindstone Entertainment acquires David Rodriguez’s “Last I Heard”
Los Angeles, California – Grindstone Entertainment Group has acquired all North American rights to Last I Heard, the Sopranos-esque mob drama from filmmaker David Rodriguez and producers Kevin and Andrea Kelly. The film, which premiered at the 2013 Seattle International Film Festival, stars Paul Sorvino, Steven Bauer, Michael Rapaport and Chazz Palminteri. Lionsgate Home Entertainment will handle the release, which is expected for late 2014. “We are excited to be working with such a … [Read more...] about MIPTV: Grindstone Entertainment acquires David Rodriguez’s “Last I Heard”
MIPTV: FremantleMedia acquires “Punk’d”
MIPFORMATS, Cannes – FremantleMedia completed a format acquisition deal with Katalyst Network, co-founded by Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg, and MTV for the international rights (excluding North America) to the hilarious, hidden-camera reality show,Punk’d on April 6. FremantleMedia will launch the title at MIPTV. Having launched on MTV in 2003, Punk’d became a breakout hit and set a new standard by which other hidden-camera shows were judged. The reality format with a twist … [Read more...] about MIPTV: FremantleMedia acquires “Punk’d”
Kantar Media acquires The Data Republic
London – Kantar Media announced the acquisition of The Data Republic, a specialist social TV analytics agency, on April 2. The acquisition will build on the company's activities in audience measurement and insight in over 60 markets. It follows the enhanced global partnership between Kantar and Twitter announced on March 31 expanding the provision of Kantar Media's social TV planning and analytics from its current base in the UK and Spain to include the Nordics, Russia as well as … [Read more...] about Kantar Media acquires The Data Republic
