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BERLIN -- Pressing ahead with plans to expand its TV activities, German movie heavyweight Constantin Film announced Thursday the acquisition of a 51% stake in TV production outfit Movie -- the Art of Entertainment.

Berlin-based Movie is behind the detective series "Rosa Roth," as well as several hit TV films.

The news comes just days before Constantin's "book-building phase" (Sept. 8-10), when initial share prices will be set before it hits the hot Frankfurt Neuer Markt exchange on Sept. 13.

Movie is the latest of several recent signed deals as Constantin accelerates plans to expand into family entertainment, branch out into ancillary rights (such as merchandising), and build up the company's international activities.

"We have a strong basis in our home territory and are looking beyond ... to other territories ... mainly in the U.S.," Constantin topper Bernd Eichinger told Variety.

Constantin recently took in a third shareholder, kidvid hotshot EM.TV & Merchandising, to back expansion into family entertainment, animation and merchandising. Munich-based the Kirch Group holds 36.75% of Constantin, Eichinger 38.25% and EM.TV 25%.

"The advantage of having these partners is that we are all established abroad and have our own contacts that Constantin can benefit from," Eichinger said.