Big CBS buys raft of US series and preps new channel

CBS and Reliance joint venture channels group Big CBS has picked up a raft of US drama and unscripted shows. The partners are also prepping a new channel, Big CBS HD, for the fast-growing Indian market.

CBS Studios International and Reliance Broadcast Network launched Indian joint venture Big CBS Networks last year and rolled out three channels: Big CBS Prime, and Big CBS Spark and Big CBS Love. The partners said yesterday that they will launch a fourth channel, Big CBS HD, but did not specify when.

Much of the new content comes from CBS line-up of new and catalogue shows.

Male-skewed Big CBS Prime has got new seasons of Hawaii Five 5.0 and a premier of legal series The Defenders from CBS Studios as well as Survivor, South Pacific. It also has entertainment/magazine formats Aspire and Big Wheels from BloombergUTV.

Female-targeted Big CBS Love has CBS Studio’s reality series Kid Nation and dating series Excused as well as Sony-distributed comedy series Rules of Engagement. New local content includes India’s Glam Diva and fitness series Jo Fit Hai Who Hit Tai.

Reliance, meanwhile, confirmed plans to launch two channels in partnership with RTL, after inking a separate joint venture agreement with the RTL-owned, pan-European broadcaster.