Germany’s Mainstream Media Plans New Channel Launches

April 13, 2015 World Screen Top Stories
ADVERTISEMENT

ISMANING: German broadcaster Mainstream Media is expanding its TV business, forming a cooperation with Crystal Clear Entertainment and IMMS for the joint exploitation of international channel concepts.

Mainstream Media has a 25-percent stake as a founding partner in My Cinema Europe (MCE). Crystal Clear holds 50 percent and IMMS the remaining 25 percent.

The first project of focus is the delivery of My Cinema Europe in South Korea. The pay-TV channel originally debuted in November 2014 in South Korea via the Skylife platform. It currently reaches 2 million households in South Korea and Indonesia. Further distribution in Asian markets and the Middle East are coming shortly. U.S. negotiations are under way.

My Cinema Europe showcases the best of European cinema. It features more than 500 movies, tailor-made for the needs of the Asian markets. Offerings include The Counterfeiters, The Great Beauty and In Darkness. The movies are aired in their original languages with English subtitles. Subscribers can also choose subtitles in the respective local language.

Gottfried Zmeck, the chairman of the executive board of Mainstream Media, said: “With MCE we consequently push our international activities. Above all Asia is an exciting market. The joint distribution effort within MCE is a promising opportunity to build a basis there. We expect synergies for Mainstream Networks Holding and for the launch of additional TV channels of our portfolio. We are glad to join forces with seasoned distribution experts like Michael and Stefan Knobloch and David Schiller.”

Stefan Knobloch, the managing director of Crystal Clear Entertainment, added: “The launch of MCE in Asia, supported by Mainstream Media AG, is a successful initiative to establish a premium European movie channel in Asia as a refreshing new offer for this market. MCE is the first step of a far-reaching cooperation with Mainstream Media to place additional newly developed channels to cater for the individual needs of these markets.”