MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks and Dori Media Group (DMG) have entered into an agreement for SPT Networks to acquire 50 per cent of Televiva, DMG?s telenovela channel in Indonesia.

Televiva, which offers viewers first-run telenovelas dubbed into Bahasa Indonesia, is carried exclusively by Indovision, the nation?s largest pay-TV provider. The channel is popular among women ages 15 and over and boasts high viewership loyalty for its programming.

SPT president worldwide networks Andy Kaplan said, "The joint-venture agreement demonstrates our continued commitment to the Indonesian pay-TV marketplace. Televiva complements our bouquet of channels and we look forward to working closely with DMG for continued success"

In Indonesia SPT Networks have five of its channels - AXN, Sony Entertainment Television, beTV, One and Animax being offered across pay-TV platforms. The pay-TV market in Indonesia, which boasted a 6.6 per cent penetration in 2012, is expected to grow from 2.4 million to 5.5 million TV households by 2016.

DMG president CEO Nadav Palti commented, "We are very excited and appreciative that SPT Networks has chosen to partner with us in Indonesia, which has become a major market in Southeast Asia. We have developed a successful business over a number of years, but we are certain that SPT Networks? involvement will contribute to our operations in Indonesia, as well as venture to other regions."