Sony bags Liberty’s Dutch film nets

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks has completed the acquisition of the Film1 group of movie channels in the Netherlands from US cable giant Liberty Global.

Kate Marsh

The deal will see SPT fully own and operate the five premium pay TV channels included under the Film1 umbrella, as well as its Film1 Go on-demand service, which is available to subscribers via PCs, tablets and smartphones.

The five channels are Film1 Premiere, Film1 Action, Film1 Comedy & Kids, Film1 Spotlight and Film1 Sundance, which between them air movies from Dreamworks, FOX, Paramount, MGM and Warner Bros.

Liberty Global recently completed the acquisition of Dutch cable operator Ziggo, which will continue to carry all five Film1 channels along with other UPC cable TV platforms in the territory.

Kate Marsh, SPT’s exec VP of networks for Western Europe, will oversee the channels once the deal is completed.

Marsh said: “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.

“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.”

The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval.