Television
March 6, 2000
Warner Bros. International Television Distribution Extends Free Television Deal With Spain’s RTVE
(March 6, 2000 - Burbank, CA) - Warner Bros. International Television Distribution has signed a free television deal with Spain’s state-owned Radio Televisión Española, extending their current deal by three years. The announcement was made today by Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, President, Warner Bros. International Television, and Pio Cabanillas, Director General, Radio Televisión Española (RTVE).
The deal, which was negotiated by Jose Abad, Managing Director, Spain & Portugal, Warner Bros. International Television Distribution (WBITD) & Turner Broadcasting System, includes the free television broadcast rights to selected Warner Bros. Pictures releases (including “The Matrix,” “Three Kings,” “You’ve Got Mail” and “Analyze This”), the renewals of television series currently under license (including “ER”), as well as the rights to several new series (including “The West Wing”), and animated series (including a branded “Warner Hour,” comprised of classic animation featuring “Bugs Bunny,” “Tazmania” and “Pixie & Dixie,” and contemporary animation such as “Power Puff Girls” and “Ed, Edd and Eddy”).
“I am pleased that we are extending our long-standing relationship with RTVE,” said Schlesinger. “Our product has thrived on their networks for many years and I hope that we can continue the same success for years to come.”
“In such a dynamic industry, it is gratifying to see how such fruitful relationships such as the one between Warner Bros. and RTVE are consolidated for the future,” said Cabanillas.
RTVE is the largest Spanish audiovisual group and has an international projection in all five continents. The group has two free television channels – La Primera and La2; an international channel TVE Internacional and 7 thematic channels – Canal 24 Horas, Alucine, Canal Clasico, Teledeporte, Canal Nostalgia, Hixpavision and Cine Paraiso; and 6 radio stations: Radio 1, Radio Clasica, Radio 3, Radio 5 Todo Noticias, Radio 4 for Cataluña and Radio Exterior de España.
Warner Bros. International Television Distribution is the world’s largest distributor of programming, licensing more than 39,000 hours of television programming and movies dubbed or subtitled in more than 40 languages to broadcasters in more than 175 countries. WBITD handles distribution to the all international television media, including broadcast, pay cable, basic cable, satellite, pay-per-view, video-on-demand and digital platforms for all product from Warner Bros. Pictures (contemporary and classic films, including the MGM and RKO libraries), Warner Bros. Television, Telepictures Productions, Castle Rock, selected product from CNN Productions and Turner Original Productions, and all Warner Bros., Cartoon Network and Hanna-Barbera animated product. # # #