NBC Universal Announces Japanese Expansion

TOKYO, November 8: NBC Universal
has inked an agreement to acquire the Jupiter Telecommunications (J:COM) subsidiary JSBC2 and to launch the SCI FI Channel in the
Japanese market next year.

Under the terms of the agreement,
NBC Universal will acquire 100 percent of the equity of JSBC2, which currently holds the broadcasting
license for Reality TV on the SkyPerfecTV! platform in
Japan. Terms of the transaction have not been
disclosed. The deal is expected to close in April 2008.

NBC Universal’s Global Networks
division plans to launch the SCI FI Channel on J:COM in spring 2008. This marks
the rollout of the first NBC Global Networks channel brand in Japan. SCI FI
Channel is currently the fourth ranked entertainment network in the U.S. cable
TV market and airs in more than 30 countries around the world.

“We believe that the launch of SCI FI Channel
will be an exciting and enticing development for subscribers in Japan’s pay-TV
market,” said Taichi Fukuda, the managing director of Japan and
representative of NBC Universal International.

Raymund Miranda, the managing
director of NBC Universal Global Networks Asia, added, “The SCI FI channel is one of the most successful channels
both internationally and in the US. We are very excited to introduce the SCI FI
brand to the vibrant Japanese market.”

—By Irene Lew