Universal Networks International
Universal Networks International, formerly NBC Universal Global Networks, is a part of NBCUniversal.
When NBC Universal was formed, it owned entertainment television channels in Europe and Latin America. They were mostly a few international versions of the Sci Fi Channel, three action and suspense series channels in Europe, the Italian Studio Universal channel and the Latin American version of the USA Network.
In 2007 NBC Universal acquired Sparrowhawk Media Group, which at the time was a British private equity-backed media company managing a collection of digital television channels, and integrated it into NBC Universal Global Networks.[1][2] The purchase more than doubled the number of internaional channels in NBC Universal's portfolio. Sparrowhawk's crown jewel was an international network of drama channels available on most continents under the Hallmark Channel brand, but also a few new channels such as Diva TV and Movies 24.
On October 5, 2009, it was announced that the venture would be renamed Universal Networks International and focus its attention on five channel brands, all with "Universal" in their name:[3]
- Universal Channel
- 13th Street Universal
- Syfy Universal
- Diva Universal
- Studio Universal
Altogether, the company broadcast about 70 different channels by 2009.[4]
The overhaul started in late 2009 and progressed during 2010. Most of the international Sci Fi channels were rebranded as Syfy Universal. The Hallmark Channel brand was also phased out in most markets during 2010. Typically, it was replaced by the Universal Channel brand in markets where that brand wasn't available before. In many markets where Universal Channel was already present, Hallmark Channel was replaced by either Studio Universal, Diva Universal or 13th Street Universal.
Following the merger of NBCUniversal and Comcast, the following channels are also operated and distributed by NBCUniversal:
[edit] Channels
[edit] Australia and New Zealand
- E!
- CNBC Asia
- CNBC Australia
- 13th Street Universal Australia (+2)
- KidsCo
- Style Network
- Universal Channel Australia [5]
- Sci Fi Channel Australia (+2, 33.33% as part of the TV1 General Entertainment Partnership)
- TV1 (+2, 33.33% as part of the TV1 General Entertainment Partnership)
- Premium Movie Partnership (20%) – joint venture between 20th Century Fox, Sony, NBCUniversal, Viacom and Liberty Media (all parties have equal holdings)
- showtime premiere (which has a HD simulcast and a 2 hour timeshift channel)
- showcase (which has a HD simulcast and a 2 hour timeshift channel)
- showtime action (which has a HD simulcast)
- showtime comedy
- showtime drama
[edit] Benelux
[edit]
- 13th Street Universal
- History Germany
- Syfy Universal Germany
- The Biography Channel Germany
- CNBC Europe
- CNBC Nordic
- E!
- MSNBC (only available on terestrial in Berlin)
NBC Universal owned the free-to-air broadcaster Das Vierte until 2008.
[edit] France
[edit] Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Slovenia, and Macedonia
- Universal Channel Hungary
- Sci Fi Universal Serbia
- Sci Fi Universal Slovenia
- KidsCo
- Movies 24 Eastern Europe
- CNBC Europe
- E!
[edit] Italy
- Diva Universal Italy
- Steel
- Studio Universal Italy
- CNBC Europe
- ClassTV MSNBC (franchisely operated by Class Editori)
- Class CNBC (joint venture with Class Editori and Mediaset)
- E!
[edit] Korea and Japan
- Universal Channel Japan (HD)
- Nikkei CNBC (joint venture with Nihon Keizai Shimbun, TV Tokyo, and Jupiter TV)
- SBS-CNBC (joint venture with SBS Medianet)
- SBS E! (franchisely operated by SBS Medianet)
[edit] Mexico, Latin America, and Brazil
- E!
- Universal Channel (HD)
- Studio Universal Latin America
- Syfy Latin America
- CNBC Latin America
- Golf Channel
- MSNBC Latin America (available in parts of Latin America)
[edit] Poland and Czech Republic
- Universal Channel (HD)
- Sci Fi Universal
- 13th Street Universal
- KidsCo
- E!
- Style Network
- TVN CNBC (franchisely operated by TVN Group)
- CNBC Europe
[edit] Romania and Moldova
[edit] Russia and CIS countries
[edit] Macau, Mongolia, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Philippines, and Southeast Asia
- CNBC Asia
- CNBC Hong Kong
- CNBC Singapore
- Diva Universal Asia
- Diva Universal Philippines (joint venture with Solar Entertainment Corporation)
- KidsCo
- Golf Channel (HD)
- E! (HD)
- Style Network
- Syfy Universal Asia (HD)
- Universal Channel Asia (HD)
- Universal Channel Philippines (joint venture with Solar Entertainment Corporation)
[edit] Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and India
- CNBC Pakistan (franchisely operated by Vision Network Television Limited)
- CNBC-TV18 (joint venture with TV18)
- CNBC Awaaz (joint venture with TV18)
- Diva Universal Pakistan
- KidsCo
- E!
[edit] Spain and Portugal
- Calle 13 (HD)
- Syfy Universal Spain (HD)
- Syfy Portugal (HD)
- CNBC Europe
- E! (HD)
- KidsCo
[edit] United Kingdom and Ireland
- CNBC Europe
- CNBC UK
- Universal Channel UK (+1, HD)
- KidsCo
- Syfy UK (+1, HD)
- Movies 24
- Movies 24 +
- E!
[edit] Turkey, Greece, Africa, and Middle East
- Universal Channel Africa (available in West, South, and East Africa)
- Universal Channel Turkey (available in Turkey)
- Universal Channel Greece (available in Greece)
- Studio Universal Africa (available in South Africa)
- Syfy Universal Africa
- KidsCo
- MSNBC Africa (available in South Africa and parts of Nouthern Africa)
- NTV-MSNBC (joint venture with NTV)
- CNBC Europe
- CNBC-e (franchisely operated by Doğuş Group)
- CNBC Africa (franchisely operated by Africa Business News)
- CNBC Arabiya (franchisely operated by Middle East Business News)
- E!
- Style Network
[edit] United States and Canada
- CNBC
- CNBC World
- MSNBC
- Syfy
- E! (HD/VOD)
- E! Canada (available in Canada, franchisely operated by Bell Media)
- Bravo! (HD, franchisely operated by Bell Media)
- G4 Canada (franchisely operated by Rogers Media)
- Style Network (HD/VOD)
- Golf Channel (HD/VOD/3D)
[edit] High Definition
On the January 26, 2009, Sci Fi became the first of the NBC Universal Global Network channels to begin broadcasting in High Definition within the UK. It will provide a simulcast of the Sci Fi Channel exclusively on Sky+HD channel 214, and will air UK HD premieres such as Eli Stone and Flash Gordon.
[edit] References
- ^ "NBC Universal agrees to buy Sparrowhawk Media". reuters.com. 28 August 2007. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL2834678120070828. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
- ^ "NBC Universal buys 18 Hallmark channels outside the U.S. - International Herald Tribune". www.iht.com. http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/28/business/nbc.php. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
- ^ "NBC Universal in content and branding push". Broadcast. October 5, 2009. http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/international/nbc-universal-in-content-and-branding-push/5006409.article.
- ^ "Universal Networks to focus on 5 channels". Broadband TV News. October 5, 2009. http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2009/10/05/universal-networks-to-focus-on-5-channels/.
- ^ "Hallmark switch to Universal Channel". tvtonight.com.au. http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2010/05/hallmark-switch-to-universal-channel.html. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
[edit] External links
This article about a media company is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
|
|
|