Dutch nets in rights war
Willis, De Niro pix in package
The deal is the latest salvo in the Dutch programming battle between the three-channel net HMG and SBS6, a Scandinavian Broadcasting System outlet whose audience shares have been steadily rising.
Among the films picked up from RCV, Holland's third-largest distributor, are "Last Man Standing," with Bruce Willis, "True Crime," starring Alicia Silverstone, "The Fan," with Robert De Niro, and "Kingpin," starring Woody Harrelson.
The films, to be broadcast in 1999, are expected to help HMG in its efforts to boost the audience shares of its channels, especially commercial market leader RTL 4.
After years of posting viewing shares of between 25% and 30%, RTL has seen its ratings dip regularly below 20%, a target the channel had promised advertisers it would reach.
The deal comes on the heels of a pact SBS6 inked with MGM for all 18 of the Lion's James Bond titles as well as a raft of other pics.
Ratings battle expected
The rights wars are the opening shots being fired in the tense battle for ratings expected in the coming season, as the three HMG commercial channels -- RTL 4, RTL 5 and Veronica -- brace for the Dec. 19 launch of the new Fox channel in Holland and SBS' launch of a sister channel, Net 5, to be launched March 1.
