NBC UNIVERSAL UNVEILS INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION PLANS
New Channels Signal Growth Ambitions In Global Networks
LONDON – 4th April 2007 – NBC Universal, the media and entertainment company, will launch 20 additional local television channels in 23 new countries across Europe, Asia and Latin America in a drive to more than double revenues from its Global Networks Division, it was announced today by Peter Smith, President, NBC Universal International.
Existing NBC Universal channel brands, including Sci-Fi, 13th Street and Universal Channel, will be targeted for launch for the first time in new markets across Asia, Eastern Europe, Russia and India. These channels will also be extended in the existing Global Networks territories of Western Europe and Latin America. Over the next two to three years, the company expects the channels plan will more than double annual revenues in the Global Networks Division.
Currently NBC Universal has 12 local versions of their entertainment channels in 35 countries internationally. This announcement will more than double the number of local channels to 32, reaching a total of 58 countries, beginning with the launch of Sci-Fi in Latin America and Sci-Fi and 13th Street in the Netherlands. The initiative forms part of a group-wide strategy to increase sharply the global reach of NBC Universal’s filmed entertainment, networks and cable television operations, which generated total international revenues of almost $3bn last year.
The move follows the recent pledge by Jeff Zucker, NBC Universal president and chief executive, to make international growth one of his strategic priorities, alongside content creation and digital expansion. Last month, NBC Universal unveiled its first major digital step since Mr. Zucker became chief executive earlier this year, by joining forces with News Corporation to launch the largest online video distribution network ever assembled.
Mr. Zucker said, “We promised that international growth would be one of our key areas of focus and this first step underlines our determination to grow our business throughout the world.”
The channel expansion follows a strategic review led by Zucker and Smith, which identified ways to increase NBC Universal’s existing international presence working across all of the company’s divisions.
Mr. Smith said: “We have set an ambitious growth plan for the company that will boost the international visibility of our television channels and other businesses, accelerating the global presence of NBC Universal as a whole.”
The Global Networks plan is expected to see channels launched across Europe, Asia and Latin America over 2007 and 2008, including key new markets such as Portugal, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Turkey, Russia and India.
Mr. Smith added: “International pay TV markets are offering opportunities for strong, focused pay channel brands. We have the experience and resource to begin a targeted launch programme in priority markets, including wider distribution and more local production in the countries where we operate. We look to markets with growing digital subscriber bases, emerging pay television consumption, new platforms and new technologies.”