First-Ever Russian Volume Deal for CBSSI

LOS ANGELES: CBS Studios International took the wraps off a first-ever volume deal in Russia during the L.A. Screenings, inking Thursday a multi-year, multiplatform pact for Amedia to broadcast current and upcoming series produced by the Hollywood studio.

The deal includes rights to existing hits like Elementary and Beauty and the Beast as well as new fall and midseason hopefuls like the drama Reckless and the sitcom The Millers.

In addition, Amedia will also broadcast the latest premium content from paybox Showtime, including the gritty drama about a Hollywood fixer called Ray Donovan and new seasons of The Borgias and House of Lies. No financial details of the deal were made available.

As part of the licensing arrangement, Amedia will also feature CBSSI programming on its own digital platforms, including its linear pay-TV channels and its subscription-video-on-demand (SVOD) service.

Armando Nuñez, president and CEO of CBS Global Distribution, said the new arrangement would provide Russian audiences with “world-class content” and establish CBS as “a leading content provider in the region.”

Alexander Akopov, president of Amedia Group, said in a statement: “We are proud to present an exclusive, day-to-day lineup of great CBS shows together with edgy and provocative Showtime series. These will help us to establish ourselves as a leading pay-TV and SVOD provider in the region, with the strongest portfolio of premium TV shows.”