SPTI Launches AXN SCI-FI in CIS

LONDON, April 28: Sony
Pictures Television International (SPTI) has inked carriage agreements with
multiple cable operators across the CIS, including Russia, the Ukraine and
Kazakhstan, to roll out AXN SCI-FI, its dedicated science-fiction channel.

AXN SCI-FI is now
available to more than 1 million pay-TV subscribers in several countries in the
CIS, including Russia, the Ukraine and Kazakhstan. SPTI noted that it is in
further negotiations at an advanced stage for additional carriage of the
channel.

AXN SCI-FI is
the science-fiction-themed extension of the general entertainment and action
network AXN. Aimed at the 12-to-49 demo, programming on the channel ranges from
Lost, the Stargate franchise, Mutant X, Kyle XY, Andromeda and
Dead Like Me to Stephen King
mini-series and Hollywood feature films as Armageddon and Unbreakable. AXN SCI-FI has a reach of more than 4 million
subscribers in Central Europe, two years after its launch in May 2006.

Ross Hair,
the senior VP of international networks at SPTI,
commented: “Russia and the CIS countries are increasingly important in growing
our networks business. Launching the first-ever network devoted to science
fiction programming in the region is a significant development for our business
and for pay-tv subscribers. With such a strong programming line-up on AXN
SCI-FI, we know this new channel will prove to be as popular in the CIS as it
already is with our Central European audiences.”

—By Irene Lew