FX Portugal

CHANNEL: FX

COUNTRY: Portugal

LAUNCH DATE: September 26, 2007

OWNERSHIP: Fox International Channels Iberia

DISTRIBUTION: 518,000 through the ZON TV Cabo Funtastic Life Package.

DESCRIPTION: Targeting a young, male-skewing audience, FX offers series, reality shows, adult animation and films.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT:
Programming & Acquisitions Director: Pablo Viñuales
Country Manager: Assunçao Loureiro
Channel Editor: Gonçalo Moura
Brand Manager: Pedro Coelho
PR Executive: Joana Pratas
Programming Coordinator: Patricia Silva

PROGRAMMING STRATEGY: Competing with the likes of SIC Radical, AXN, SCI FI and MOV, FX Portugal looks to lure in the elusive young-male audience. It has positioned itself as a destination for "the new TV and Internet consumers," says Gonçalo Moura, the channel editor, "focused on fresh and irreverent content. We’re developing towards a highly interactive form of TV."

Moura says there’s "great strength" to FX’s daytime product, but prime time is where the channel shines brightest. Its grid relies solely on acquired fare at this point, with shows coming from all the major studios as well as independent producers. "FX embraces different types of program content," says Moura, "from series, reality shows, film to adult animation and sexy product to entertain men."

Like its U.S. counterpart, FX in Portugal airs It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, alongside the FOX series King of the Hill. Also strong performers in the FX schedule are Monk, Dexter, The X Files, Flight of the Conchords, Solitary, Sports Night, My Name is Earl and Californication.

WHAT’S NEW: Development of a website is ongoing, and user-generated content is one use the channel hopes to support with the launch. "As a FIC global strategy, new-media content is being developed for all territories and channels," Moura notes of further extensions.

New programming highlights headed to FX include Sons of Anarchy, Underbelly, Free Radio, American Gladiators and Kenny Vs Spenny.