NBCU & Globosat Expand Brazilian Partnership

LONDON/RIO DE JANEIRO: NBCUniversal International and Globosat have extended their relationship beyond Universal Channel to include Syfy and Studio Universal for the Brazilian market.

All three of the pay-TV services will be operated by the existing Universal Channel management team. Globosat will represent the venture for advertising and affiliate sales for all three networks.

The two first linked up for Universal Channel Brazil in 1996. The channel has become a leading network in the country. The new joint venture between the two will include Syfy and the movie channel Studio Universal.

Kevin MacLellan, the president of international television at NBCUniversal, commented: “Jeff Shell (the president of NBCUniversal International) and I have long-standing relationships with Alberto Pecegueiro and his Globosat team. We are thrilled to expand our relationship with Globosat; their market leadership and local expertise helped build Universal Channel into a top 10 channel in Brazil, and Syfy and Studio Universal will benefit under their guidance. Brazil is a very important market for NBCUniversal, and our enhanced partnership with Globosat will allow us to continue to grow our pay-TV operations in the years to come.”

Alberto Pecegueiro, the CEO of Globosat, added: “The arrival of NBCUniversal’s new international team, led by Jeff Shell and Kevin MacLellan, has brought a whole new vitality to our joint venture. We are very pleased with the spirit of partnership demonstrated by NBCUniversal and are looking forward to expanding the scope of our businesses.”

Paulo Barata, the general manager of NBCUniversal International Networks Brasil Programadora – JV, said: “We are very pleased with the opportunity to offer these channels as a portfolio to operators, ad agencies and advertisers. The goal of our team is to refine and further customize Studio Universal and Syfy for Brazilian viewers.”