BabyTV Launches on SKY PerfecTV! in Japan

LONDON, April 1: BabyTV
has acquired the Global Learning Channel, an English-language station airing on
satellite platform SKY PerfecTV! in Japan, and has launched the 24-hour
toddler-targeted network in its place.

BabyTV, a commercial-free
channel aimed at children under the age of three, launches on SKY PerfecTV!
today. The channel will be available in the Yokubari Pack (the basic package),
the 15 Selection pack (another package which allows viewers to select 15
channels), The English Master 4 pack (another package with CNN, Bloomberg, BBC
and BabyTV), as well as on an a la carte basis.

The network is also
expanding in Japan off-air, with a video license agreement with
home-entertainment distributor Apricot, which sees BabyTV programs localized
and DVDs produced and distributed by Apricot. Three titles will launch on June
4: Let’s Go Outside, Music
with the Jammers and We Love
Animals.

Ward Platt, the president
of Fox International Channel Asia, said: “The acquisition of GLC Channel is an
important strategic move for us. We are creating a place for BabyTV in the
Japanese market and carriage on SKY PerfecTV! is the right step for us in our
goal to establish our presence in the market.”

Liran Talit, the
co-founder and managing director of BabyTV, added, “BabyTV is geared towards an
aggressive growth strategy in Asia this year and the acquisition, together with
exposure of BabyTV daily blocks on FOX channels, and Apricot home-video deals
will solidify our presence in Japan. In the short time since our arrival in
Asia, BabyTV has secured carriage with major operators across the region
including Starhub in Singapore, NowTV in Hong Kong, Indovision in Indonesia,
HanaTV and MegaTV in Korea, YoyoTV in Taiwan and others, and our strategy is
geared to continue this growth.”

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski