Sony Pictures Television closes Film1 deal

Sony Pictures Television Networks (SPT) has completed its buyout of Dutch channel group Film1 from Liberty Global, after gaining approval from the European Commission.

The closing of the deal and means SPT now fully owns and operates the five Film1-branded pay TV channels – Film1 Premiere, Film1 Action, Film1 Comedy and Kids, Film1 Spotlight, and Film1 Sundance – as well as the Film1 Go digital service.

The new pay TV channel business reports to SPT’s executive vice president, networks, for Western Europe, Kate Marsh.

“The acquisition of Film1 marks a key move into the Dutch market and underlines our continued commitment to grow our highly successful and diverse suite of channels across Europe,” said Marsh.

“Film1 complements and expands our successful Networks portfolio and we are looking forward to working with all our partners to continue to build on the success of the Film1 proposition.”

Under the acquisition, all Film1-branded channels will continue to be carried on the Ziggo cable platform, as well as on KPN, M7 and other current distribution partners in the Netherlands. The Film1 Go service is available to all Film1 channel subscribers on PCs, tablets and smartphones.

The acquisition is the latest by SPT, which acquired the Viasat3 and Viasat6 free-to-air TV channels in Hungary from the Modern Times Group in February. Last year, SPT also bought UK channel group CSC Media.