MTV gets Spike TV ready for roll out

The international roll out of youth skewing male entertainment brand Spike TV is on MTV’s radar. The broadcaster is looking at rolling out the channel, which is only currently available in the US, in a number of European territories, and Central and Eastern Europe is the region tipped to see it first.

Bill Roedy, President, MTV Networks International, told Informa Telecoms and Media: "We’re looking at it. It’s definitely on our radar screen."

Spike may initially bow in Poland, where MTV has been launching a raft of channels. It launched Nickelodeon in April and is actively looking at other Viacom-owned channels that it can launch.

Activity in Poland and the CEE region is managed by MTVNI’s fast-growing Emerging Markets unit. Izabella Wiley, General Manager and Vice President, MTV Networks Poland, confirmed to Informa Telecoms and Media that it was considering launching Spike.

The channel itself airs a mix of action series and reality shows including live wrestling competition The Ultimate Fighter and docu-drama 1000 Ways To Die, which is produced by Thom Beers’ Original Productions. It has also recently started with original comedy programming, ordering a pilot for a US remake of British comedy series Peep Show.

Spike TV has also ramped up its online production with the launch of a number of original digital series such as Safran Digital-produced spoof erotic series PG Porn, martial arts program The MMA Girls and video game comedy MoCap.