World briefs
BRAZIL
The Weather Channel Latam has signed a distribution agreement with Brazilian cablers group Neo-TV.
Neo-TV's 18 members own a collective 98 cable companies with 700,000 subs. The agreement should help Weather Channel Latam expand its distribution of its local channel, O Canal do Tempo.
It is still negotiating to get carriage in the major cities of Sao Paolo and Rio.
INDIA
Indian national broadcaster Doordarshan (DD) has announced its entry onto the Internet through pacts with telecom companies worldwide.
DD will supply content to both national and international Internet companies. It has already signed a deal with British Telecom for extending its international services throughout Europe. DD will be available to viewers through both cable and direct-to-home satellite services. While Europe will be viewing DD by March this year, the national broadcaster also intends to monopolize the South Asian DTH market by being the only player in the field.
CHILE
Leading Chilean multisystem operator VTR Hipercable will launch Discovery Networks Latam's Animal Planet on Tuesday.
VTR already carries the Discovery Channel, Discovery Kids and People & Arts. By adding Animal Planet, Discovery has close to 100% penetration of the cable market in Chile since the other major MSO, Metropolis, already carries all four channels.
