Chello Zone


Fairbairn exits as Scripps takes channels in-house

Kathy Fairbairn, the director of programming for Food Network and Fine Living and the former JimJam boss, has exited AMC Networks after the channels’ owner, Scripps Network Interactive, took its operation back in-house. The Scripps channels had been operated by Chello Zone, the channel operator that was part of Chellomedia, which was acquired by AMC […]

Tuchman gains control of global MGM channels

AMC/Sundance Channel Global president Bruce Tuchman has added the role of president, MGM Channel Global to his duties. AMC Networks has handed Tuchman the role following its acquisition of Chellomedia, which had acquired the international MGM channels business in August 2012. The MGM Channel is distributed in more than 130 territories. Tuchman has a long […]

News brief: JimJam goes wild with Big Media series

Multi-regional children’s channel JimJam has acquired My Animal Friends, a 26x13mins from US-headquartered producer-distributor Big Media. Chello Zone-owned JimJam has also ordered a new 26x13mins season, which is in production and will launch at MIPTV. My Animal Friends has sold to SBS affiliate NITV in Australia, Brunstad in Norway and TBS in Thailand. Elsewhere, Discovery […]

AMC Networks completes $1bn Chellomedia purchase

AMC Networks has closed its €750 million (US$1 billion) acquisition of global channels operator and content company Chellomedia from Liberty Global. The deal is for “substantially all” of Liberty’s interests in Chello, excluding Dutch premium cable channels Film1 and Sport1. Chello Central Europe, Chello Latin America, Chello Multicanal, Chello Zone, ad sales unit Atmedia and […]

AMC Networks buys Chellomedia for $1bn

AMC Networks has reached an agreement to buy Liberty Global-owned channel operator Chellomedia for €750 million (US$1 billion). The deal hands US-based AMC an extensive array of channels that are distributed to nearly 400 million homes in 138 territories. Chellomedia is the international content arm of John Malone’s Liberty Global, while AMC has emerged a […]

Chello’s JimJam buys Irish toon Punky

Chello Zone has acquired Irish preschool series Punky from international distribution company Monster Entertainment. The deal also includes the relicensing of Slim Pig. Punky (left) will launch on Chello-owned children’s channel JimJam in the Benelux region this month. It tells the stories of a spirited young girl with Down Syndrome and comes from Lindsay J. Sedgewick. The […]

RTL CBS appoints Asia boss

RTL and CBS have appointed Jonas Engwall CEO of their joint venture pay channels operation in Asia. Engwall will run he JV from Singapore where as he has been based since January as senior VP, RTL Group Asia. Prior to the Singapore move, he has been in various strategy roles at Luxembourg-based broadcast group RTL. […]

Scripps dishes up Turkish Food Network

Scripps Networks Interactive’s Food Network has launched in Turkey. The SD and HD service has launched on the D-Smart platform and will reach 700,000 of the pay TV operator’s subscribers. The channel is DSmart’s Extended Basic tier and the HD version will be carried on an exclusive basis. The carriage deal follows an exclusive agreement […]

Chello takes SPT titles for Turkey

Chello Zone has acquired more than 50 titles from Sony Pictures Television for Turkish channel Moviemax Speed. Chello brokered the deal on behalf of pay TV platform Digiturk, which owns the action and adventure movie net. The deal comprises 41 feature films such as Anaconda, Boyz n the Hood and Street Fighter, six miniseries including […]

JimJam buys Your Family’s Heroes of the City

Kids network JimJam has picked up animated series Heroes of the City from German distributor Your Family Entertainment. The 26-part show will debut on the Chello Zone-owned preschool channel later this month. The 3D series, which was produced by Swedish production company Ruta Ett, follows various emergency and rescue vehicles as they help people and chase […]