Flextech goes global with Minotaur pickup

Lighting directed into COO post

By ADAM DAWTREY

LONDON -- Flextech TV, a pay TV programmer, has moved into the international sales business by agreeing to acquire Minotaur Intl. for around $6.5 million.

Minotaur founder and managing director Jane Lighting will become chief operating officer of TV and content for Flextech, while remaining at the helm of Minotaur.

She will oversee the Flextech channels Living, Trouble and Bravo, but not UKTV, Flextech's joint venture with the BBC that is creatively controlled by the Blighty pubcaster.

Lighting touch

Lighting was already one of the U.K.'s most experienced international sales execs when she founded Minotaur in 1995. She will bring much needed co-production skills and talent relationships to Flextech, whose cheap and cheerful basic channels live in the shadow of BSkyB's more high-powered programming.

Adam Singer, chief exec of Flextech, said, "This fusion of Flextech's cable and satellite distribution with Minotaur's international distribution expertise will create a powerful platform to develop new content and create a fresh rights stream."

Flextech managing director Brent Harman will become group managing director when the deal is completed, focusing on strategy and interactive services. Lis Howell will remain as Flextech's channels VP, reporting to Lighting.