NTL AND UNIVERSAL LAUNCH NEW FILM CHANNEL

CABLE Television operator NTL Inc and Universal Studios Networks, the global entertainment group, have announced a joint venture to launch a new UK film channel called ‘The Studio’.
It will be a 50-50 joint venture and be offered within the next six months and be on air for 18 hours a day, seven-days-a-week.
The joint venture is designed to take on the film channels from BSkyB, as well as other British pay-TV movie channels and will use the Hollywood studio’s portfolio of films. Following the completion of licensing deals, it will also broadcast content made by the likes of the BBC, Channel 4, the UK terrestrial channel and Canal Plus the French media group.
The content of ‘The Studio’ will include a mixture of contemporary and classic films, which will be placed in thematic blocks to target specific groups of viewers during different parts of the day.
Universal Studios networks UK will manage and operate the channel, they currently operate Sci Fi, the cable, satellite and Sky Digital channel.
The channel will be included as part of NTL’s basic package, so subscribers will not have to pay extra for the service.
Under the deal, NTL will receive Sky’s main channels for the first time, including its premium sport and film channels.