Spike Set for U.K. Rollout

LONDON: Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) is launching the U.S. cable network Spike in the U.K. next spring.

The channel reaches almost 100 million households in the U.S. It will now head to the Freeview digital terrestrial TV platform in the U.K. early next year, making it available on free-to-air in an additional 11 million U.K. TV homes. The British Spike channel will combine repeats of Channel 5 factual programs, including Police Interceptors and Cowboy Builders, along with Spike's U.S. content, including Bar Rescue. The male-skewed network will also feature acquired films and series and library content from other Viacom brands.

VIMN will also strengthen Channel 5's other networks on Freeview, adding additional Viacom content to the schedules of 5USA and 5*.

Philippe Dauman, Viacom's president and CEO, said: “Spike is one of our best performing networks and brands and I’m delighted audiences outside the U.S. are going to be able to access and enjoy it for the first time.
 
“This launch has been made possible by our recent acquisition of Channel 5, which gives us ownership of a pipeline of quality factual content. Combined with Spike’s U.S. content and targeted acquisitions it represents a powerful program lineup that we are very confident will prove popular with British TV viewers. We believe this launch will establish a strong foundation for Spike launches in other countries.”