Chellomedia Picks Up Spektrum for Channel Portfolio

LONDON, September 8:
Chellomedia has acquired the documentary channel Spektrum from HBO Central
Europe, a joint venture owned by Home Box Office, The Walt Disney Company and
Sony Pictures Television International/Columbia Tri-Star, for 60 million euros.

Spektrum is carried on
multiple television platforms in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Its
programming is sourced from more than 200 international providers, including
BBC Worldwide, Channel 4, FremantleMedia and TVF, with an increasing percentage
being produced in its home market. The channel’s programming includes
documentaries on nature, science and technology, travel, history, lifestyle and
military, with titles such as Jamie’s School Diners, Lonely Planet and The Earth from Above.

Shane O’Neill, the
president of Chellomedia, said: “We are seeking to expand our position in the
fast-growing emerging markets of Central Europe and to develop our portfolio of
channel genres and Spektrum meets both these acquisition criteria. We have been
keen to build our presence in the increasingly popular documentary arena and
expect to achieve a number of synergies and growth opportunities as we bring
Spektrum into our Central Europe operations—it’s a highly complementary
acquisition for us.”

Linda Jensen, the CEO of HBO Central Europe, added: “We are pleased to see
Spektrum go to a good set of hands in the region. Chellomedia has a long
presence in all of Spektrum’s markets and we are sure that the Spektrum brand
will continue to thrive with them. HBO Central Europe will continue to focus on
its movie and entertainment business in the region, in particular our digital
and new-media initiatives.”

Spektrum will be the
eighth channel in the Chello Central Europe portfolio and Chellomedia’s fifth
deal in the region in the last 15 months.

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski