CBS has deal for TV channels in India
Last Updated: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 | 2:47 PM ET
CBC News
Stars of the new CBS series Hawaii Five-O are Alex O'Loughlin, left, as Det. Steve McGarrett, and Scott Caan as Det. Danny Danno Williams. The series will screen on Indian airwaves. (Mario Perez/CBS/Associated Press)American network CBS plans to operate three English-language channels in India in a joint venture with a local partner.
CBS Corp. announced a deal Wednesday in Mumbai with Reliance Broadcast Network, which has investments in radio stations, outdoor advertising and digital advertising.
This will be a first entry into TV for Reliance, which is controlled by billionaire Anil Ambani, who already holds a stake in Steven Spielberg's Dreamworks studios.
The three channels will feature new CBS shows such as Hawaii Five-0 and The Defenders, syndicated programs like Entertainment Tonight and old shows such as Everybody Loves Raymond.
Reliance will play a role in customizing programming for the Indian audience, as well as building on its ad expertise.
The channels offered will be:
- BIG CBS Prime, a general entertainment channel.
- BIG CBS Spark, aimed at young people.
- BIG CBS Love, geared toward women.
India's TV audience is 500 million viewers and the ad market is growing by 15 per cent annually, with revenues of $5.6 billion US in 2009, according to KPMG.
"The opportunities for growth and all of the data that support those facts are obviously staggering," Armando Nunez, president of CBS Studios International, said at a press conference.
Viacom Inc., Time Warner Inc., Walt Disney Co. and News Corp. have already ventured into India's TV market.
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