[submitted via press release]
FOX International Channels (FIC), 21st Century FOX's international multi-media business has announced a strategic partnership with StarSat, OnDigital Media's recently re-launched digital television platform.
The agreement sees retention of flagship channel FOX, alongside FX, BabyTV and Fuel as well as three additional channels namely FOX Crime, Nat Geo Gold and Fox Movies, which will increase the number of brands available to South African subscribers to seven and cements the relationship with StarSat.
The deal will increase FIC's footprint and support the global corporate strategy of channels remaining non-exclusive. "This move is very encouraging for us as a distributor of powerhouse channel brands globally," said Alessandro Tucci, SVP and General Manager for FIC Africa.
FIC will be the most relevant channels supplier of Star Sat with channels on almost all genres, such as Entertainment, Documentary, Sports and Kids. The Lifestyle channel will be launched at a later stage.
The launch of FOX Movies, a channel developed by 20th Century FOX dedicated to great and iconic content will be a first on Star Sat and the Continent - thus supporting the relevance of conducting business in Africa as stipulated by FIC's corporate strategy. "The FIC Africa strategic plan has been to ensure increased distribution of our key channel brands to all platforms thus strengthening our presence," he added.
The news comes after the company has recently announced the purchase of a controlling stake in Setanta Africa, thus increase the variety in its local portfolio of channels to include sport. FIC's fiction and factual entertainment channels epitomise the most appealing premium TV offer on the market and the addition of three bespoke brands will bring this quality to an even wider audience.
FOX Crime is an entertainment channel entirely dedicated to crime and investigation. It delivers stories with good guys, bad guys, with one prevailing over the other. Shows include The Bridge, Criminal Minds and a Classic Crime block that will be delivered daily to fans of recently discontinued FOX Retro, including Streets of San Francisco, Remington Steele and CHiPs.
Nat Geo Gold brings quality factual entertainment content that will showcase quality content including Megafactories, Dog Whisperer and Air Crash Investigation, that FIC has been synonymous with, through a bouquet of channels including National Geographic Core, Nat Geo WILD and Nat Geo Adventure.
FOX Movies encompasses the all-round and varied genres in movie entertainment that will satisfy viewer's every desire from an escapism perspective. It's a portal to the icons of the industry, in the comfort of your home.