Bulgarian News Channel Becomes CNN Affiliate

LONDON: Turner Broadcasting System Europe has signed a broadcast affiliate agreement with the soon-to-launch Bulgarian network News7, which will be sharing resources with CNN International.

Through the new agreement, which is a first of its kind for CNN in Eastern Europe, News7 joins CNN’s group of more than 1,100 worldwide affiliates. News7 gains exclusive access to a range of video and newsgathering resources from CNN. In turn, CNN gains access to News7’s own reporting from Bulgaria, with teams based in its Sofia headquarters and in regional hubs around the country. The pact also sees CNN providing consultancy, training and operational support for the channel’s launch phase and beyond.

“This agreement signals not only our ongoing commitment to developing the CNN affiliate business, but also our interest in supporting local news operations with consultancy and training to help them deliver a quality product for their audiences,” commented Gerhard Zeiler, the president of Turner Broadcasting System International. “While the channel will have entire editorial responsibility for its output, operationally we welcome the opportunity to work with this exciting new entrant into the Bulgarian news market.”
 
"Working with Turner to access CNN expertise as well as content will help News7 realize its goal to develop Bulgaria’s first fully HD channel, with the ability to provide 24-hour news coverage, which will become the leader in providing exclusive first-class news content,” added Nikolai Barekov, the CEO of BBT.
 
“I am immensely happy that an idea which I had more than a year ago is now a reality,” said Tzvetan Vassilev, initiator of the News7 concept. “I believe that with the expertise of CNN and the support of the new owners Alegro Capital, News7 will be a great success.”
 
“We are thrilled about the agreement with Turner and CNN,” commented Patrick Martin, partner and head of media at Alegro Capital. “We will fully support the development of this new channel which the previous owners initiated.”