Antenna Group Acquires Sony Pictures Television Network Portfolio in Central and Eastern Europe securing 22 Pay TV channels and two OTT services in 12 territories
Athens, October 2021 – Continuing its successful track record, the international media group Antenna, with investments and operations in North America, Europe and Australia, has agreed with Sony Pictures Television to acquire the CEE AXN, Sony and Viasat 3 & Viasat 6 Pay TV channels and On Demand services as part of a major investment in the region.
The multi-territory, multi-channel deal allows Antenna Group to enhance its position as a market leader in the region, with the opportunity to further expand its reach across the CEE media landscape, targeting an audience in excess of 100 million. The newly acquired entertainment channels and On Demand services achieve 90 per cent Pay TV market penetration with more than 24m subscribers across 12 territories: Poland, Hungary, Czechia, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Montenegro.
The 22 channels, which include the AXN and Viasat 3 & Viasat 6 legacy brands, provide a compelling mix of original productions and international programming from major studios, including Sony Pictures Entertainment, CBS, Warner Bros, NBC Universal, Disney and eOne, which inspire a loyal, dedicated fan base with strong brand affinity. Antenna Group will seek to enhance the channel offering, delivering news and entertainment, including world class studio and locally produced content, while successfully growing audiences and maximising distribution. Antenna Group will be seeking further investment opportunities across content production companies, TV channels and OTT services throughout this region.
Antenna Group currently reaches a global audience in excess of 150 million. In CEE, Antenna Group has a unique investment track record having created exceptional value in excess of €1 billion across Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Romania and surrounding Eastern European markets. With its vast TV and content investment experience over the last 30 years, the group is ideally positioned to develop these networks further.
Theodore Kyriakou, Chairman of Antenna Group said: “As Antenna Group continues to invest in media opportunities globally, the CEE region remains an important focus for us. We have invested in this region for more than 20 years aiming to provide the best entertainment and news content locally. This acquisition is yet another step in this direction whilst unlocking further growth in these markets.”
Adam Theiler, CEO Pay TV Antenna Group B.V., said: “I am delighted to welcome the Sony Networks’ team in Warsaw, Budapest and Bucharest to Antenna Group. Together, we will renew our efforts to entertain the legions of fans who trust AXN and Viasat, and by doing so, confirm our place as the preferred content partner of the pay-tv operators and advertisers who share our aspiration to grow the pay-tv market in Central and Eastern Europe.”
