African Expansion for Fine Living

LONDON: Fine Living Network (FLN) has secured carriage on the basic tier of the new South African pay-TV platform On Digital Media (ODM).

The channel is slated to roll out in South Africa on May 1. Fine Living Network is being rolled out globally via a joint venture between Scripps Networks Interactive and Chellomedia’s Chello Zone, which has already launched the Food Network in the U.K. and across territories in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The launch of FLN in South Africa is in addition to the network’s previously announced introduction across more than 60 EMEA countries on April 1 as part of a rebranding initiative. FLN will assume part of the distribution footprint of Zone Club, seen in 14 African countries on Nigeria’s My TV platform.

“Fine Living Network will become the television destination for the best in home, food and fashion,” said Greg Moyer, the president of Scripps Networks International. “The launch of FLN in South Africa and several other countries in the EMEA region validates the global appeal of lifestyle television programming.”

“South Africa is a new audience and holds many opportunities for us to reach this, as-yet un-served market," added Vino Govender, the CEO of ODM. "We will continue to expand our footprint throughout new territories in the future. With our differentiated multichannel subscription TV service, including Fine Living Network, we will expand the viewing choices for a larger portion of the population in South Africa. Subscribers will be able to select packages to suit their viewing needs according to their budgets. Market research has confirmed that it will be well received within the South African TV landscape.”