Company announces first joint commissions between Channel 5 and UK
pay TV channels MTV and Nickelodeon
Tweet this: Viacom closes deal to buy UK's
Channel 5, announces 1st
joint programming commissions
LONDON & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), a division of Viacom Inc.
(Nasdaq: VIAB, VIA), today announced the completion of its £450M
acquisition of Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited from Northern & Shell
Media Group.
The deal, which was announced on 1st May this year, was
closed this morning after receiving unconditional clearance from the
European Commission.
Philippe Dauman, Viacom President and CEO, said: "Our ownership of
Channel 5 will significantly increase Viacom's investment in British
creativity and content. We are committed to strengthening Channel 5's
status as one of UK broadcasting's premier brands, and we will continue
to grow the network's pipeline of original programming with more quality
commissions, as well as acquisitions. The addition of Channel 5 will
also benefit our existing UK pay television channel portfolio, as
demonstrated by the announcement of our first two original programming
commissions.
"We are excited about our stewardship of Channel 5 and we look forward
to delivering added value for our shareholders, partners and, above all,
our audiences."
To coincide with taking ownership of the UK broadcaster, Viacom
announced the first joint commissions between Channel 5 and its UK pay
TV channels.
Viacom's Nickelodeon is joining forces with Channel 5's pre-school
strand, Milkshake, to develop a new animated series, Nella the Knight,
intended to be their first co-production under Viacom ownership. The
series will be produced in the UK and co-funded by the two broadcasters,
who will share broadcast rights, as they already do with a variety of
other popular pre-school programmes including Peppa Pig, Ben
and Holly's Little Kingdom and Bubble Guppies. Episodes of SpongeBob
SquarePants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will also begin
airing on Channel 5.
In addition, Channel 5 and Viacom's MTV UK are jointly commissioning a
new entertainment series, 10,000 BC, in which 20 volunteers will
forgo the comforts and conveniences of modern life to go back to the
Stone Age. A 10 x 60 minute series is being produced by The Garden and
GroupM Entertainment to premiere on Channel 5 in 2015 with a 5 x 60
minute spin-off show airing on MTV UK - see
separate release.
Viacom has confirmed Channel 5's advertising sales team will be retained
following the closure of the deal and will continue to sell the
network's airtime.
Channel 5's Commercial Director of Sales, Nick Bampton, and its Chief
Operating Officer, Paul Dunthorne, will report separately to David Lynn,
EVP, Managing Director of VIMN UK, and join his UK senior management
team, along with Channel 5's Programme Director, Ben Frow.
Lynn said: "Channel 5's senior executive and sales teams continue to
perform strongly and, with an innovative approach to commercial
partnerships, have delivered great results. We look forward to working
with the senior team and in-house sales staff to build on this success."
About Viacom International Media Networks
Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), a unit of Viacom Inc.
(NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), is comprised of many of the world's most popular
multimedia entertainment brands, including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy
Central, BET, Paramount Channel, VH1, VIVA and COLORS. Viacom brands are
seen globally in more than 600 million households in 170 territories and
37 languages via more than 200 locally programmed and operated TV
channels and more than 550 digital media and mobile TV properties. For
more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com.
Keep up with Viacom news by following Viacom's blog at blog.viacom.com
and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/Viacom.
About Channel 5
Channel 5 launched as Britain's fifth public service broadcaster in
March 1997 and reaches 4 in 5 of the UK viewing public each month with a
broad mix of popular content, including quality factual programmes,
entertainment, reality, sport, acquired and original drama and
pre-school children's programming through its award winning Milkshake
strand. Sister channels 5* and 5USA complement Channel 5 with a mix of
must see entertainment and US drama, while Demand 5 is a free service to
catch up with the latest programmes on Channel 5, 5USA and 5* available
across platforms and devices including You View, Sky On Demand, Virgin
Media, BT Vision, Xbox1, iOS, Android, Freesat, PS4 and Roku. For all
the latest about Channel 5, follow us on twitter.com @channel5press and
@channel5_tv.
VIMN (London)
Matt Baker, +44 7775 845 480
matt.baker@vimn.com
or
VIMN
(New York)
Julia Phelps, +1 646 468 3808
julia.phelps@vimn.com
Source: Viacom International Media Networks
News Provided by Acquire Media