VIMN Takes Full Control of Super! in Italy

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has acquired the remaining 50-percent ownership stake in Super Broadcast, which operates the Italian free-to-air kids’ network Super!, from De Agostini Editore.

Aimed at kids 4 to 14, Super! now joins the VIMN Italian portfolio, which includes the digital terrestrial networks Paramount Network, Spike and VH1 and 11 pay-TV channels, among them Nickelodeon and Nick Jr., on Sky. “I’m pleased to confirm this new achievement in our ongoing strategy to strengthen our presence in Italy, a market where we have a strong position on pay TV with our main brands and premium content, including Nickelodeon,” said Raffaele Annecchino, the president and managing director for Southern and Western Europe, the Middle East and Africa at VIMN. “The acquisition of Super! further reinforces the VIMN relevance in the kids’ segment in Italy and increases the exposure of our properties and touchpoints.”

De Agostini Editore will work with VIMN Italy to supply original content to the channel.

“The success of Super! has gone far beyond our expectations,” added Pierfrancesco Gherardi, managing director of the digital division at De Agostini Editore. “Launched in 2012 in an overcrowded market, by 2018 the channel had gained a leading position in the kids’ Italian sector, which was achieved for a second year in 2019. Now we’re passing it to Viacom, who will further enhance the heritage of the brand Super! We, as De Agostini, will focus our efforts on our channels distributed on pay TV, on our digital platforms as well as on content production and co-production, which we have already successfully developed in these past few years.”