MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Entertainment Network‘s English entertainment channel AXN has entered into a joint venture with CU Media, a subsidiary of C&M Co, to manage and operate AXN in Korea.
The JV will facilitate AXN‘s current programming of Korean subtitled English language shows to be further localised with the addition of Korean content. The partnership with CU Media will also see a lead to expansion of AXN‘s distribution into cable.
SPE Networks - Asia senior vice president and GM Ricky Ow said, "AXN is our flagship channel brand and has been the leading international channel in Asia for many years. Since its launch in Korea, it has been very well-received, as can be seen by the distribution growth achieved over a relatively short span of time. I am excited about this joint venture because this gives us the opportunity to further localise AXN, as well as significantly expand our brand presence and viewership."
AXN entered the Korea market in July 2005 as a foreign retransmission channel, providing US programmes such as CSI and Law & Order.
In the last five years, AXN launched HD services, became the first international channel to secure carriage on all three IPTV platforms, and signed deals with multiple system operators, CJ Hellovision and On Media, to launch AXN on cable.
AXN in Korea claims a combined reach of over 4 million households including Cable and SkyLife.
