Viasat Scores First-Run NBCU Films for Russia, Ukraine & CIS

STOCKHOLM: Viasat Broadcasting has entered into a licensing agreement with NBCUniversal International Television Distribution for Russia, Ukraine and the CIS, alongside launching a new HD pay-TV channel package in the Russian market.

Through its deal with NBCU, Viasat Broadcasting is gaining access to first-run and library films for its TV1000, Premium HD and TV1000 Megahit HD premium high-definition movie channels across the region. The portfolio will also be made available through SVOD on the Viaplay online pay-TV service in Russia. The pact includes such recent hits as Snow White and the Huntsman, The Lorax, The Bourne Legacy and Ted, along with library films such as Inside Man and The Interpreter.

Also in Russia, Viasat Broadcasting is launching a package of HD channels for Rostelecom’s Interactive TV subscribers. The package includes TV100 Premium HD and TV1000 Megahit HD as well as TV1000 Comedy HD and the factual channels Viasat History HD and Viasat Nature HD. The launch of the Viasat Premium HD package is the first time that Viasat has made a complete pay-TV channel package available in Russia.

Irina Gofman, the executive VP of Russia and CIS and pay-TV emerging markets for Viasat Broadcasting, commented: “NBCUniversal has a great track record of outstanding movies and franchises. We now have multi-year movie license agreements with four out of the big six Hollywood studios for our…content offering on the TV1000 Premium HD and TV1000 Megahit HD movie channels, and our Viaplay SVOD service. This content offering is unrivaled in Russia, Ukraine and the CIS.”

Gofman added of the Russian HD pay-TV deal: “We are delighted to offer the Viasat Premium HD channel package to Rostelecom’s Interactive pay-TV subscribers. We have successfully cooperated with Rostelecom for several years in terms of our basic-tier channel portfolio. There is increasing demand for premium HD programming in Russia, and we are confident that the range of channels with exclusive Hollywood hit movies in crystal clear HD picture and Dolby Digital sound quality will be appreciated by viewers. The two most watched pay-TV channels in Russia are Viasat channels and five of our channels are ranked among the fifteen most watched pay-TV channels in the country. Our portfolio of channels is now stronger than ever.”