VIMN Expands Free-to-Air Presence in Italy

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has entered into a joint venture with De Agostini Editore for Super!, an Italian FTA television network for children.

Super! broadcasts such programming as the popular animated series SpongeBob SquarePants, among many others. The channel is available free-to-air on digital terrestrial TV in Italy. The JV has been formed by VIMN taking a 50-percent stake in the network.

Meanwhile, VIMN acquired the FTA digital terrestrial frequency LCN 49 in Italy from Scripps Networks Interactive to launch a local version of Spike at the end of next month. Spike Italy will feature a combination of Viacom’s global television hits as well as international acquisitions and local productions.

David Lynn, the president and CEO of VIMN, remarked: “Our pay-TV partnerships remain the priority for Viacom, but free-to-air distribution is helping us grow ratings and revenues in TV markets where free-to-air networks are predominant. Free-to-air channel launches have helped us significantly expand our reach amongst Italian TV viewers and we’re ambitious for future share growth in this valuable and important TV market.”

Raffaele Annecchino, the president and managing director for VIMN Southern and Western Europe, Africa and the Middle East, added: “I’m pleased to confirm this latest step in our ongoing strategy to scale-up our business in Italy, which has the highest number of free-to-air channels of any European TV market and is the third biggest in terms of advertising revenues. These new free-to-air channels, combined with our strong distribution relationship with Sky, give us a great balance between free-to-air and pay TV in this market, and allow us to reach all demographics with distinct and competitive offers.”

Viacom already owns and operates two free-to-air digital terrestrial television channels in Italy: Paramount Channel and VH1.