TVE, Nat'l Geo pact

World Brief

By MARCELO CAJUEIRO

Pubcaster TVE-Rede Brasil and National Geographic/Fox Brazil have inked a programming and technical exchange accord that could be a first step toward local co-production.

TVE bowed doc "National Geo-graphic Presents" on Monday.

"It is a win-win agreement," TVE's president director Beth Carmona told Daily Variety. "We are allow-ing the public access to quality pro-gramming that was previously only available for pay TV subscribers. For the National Geographic Channel, it is an opportunity to increase the exposure to its branding in Brazil."

Pay TV penetration in Brazil is low, just 3.4 million of the 40 million TV homes.