Telepiu, Polygram pact

By VARIETY STAFF

MILAN --- Italy's sole pay TV operation, Telepiu, controlled by France's Canal Plus, said it has reached a five-year deal with Polygram Filmed Entertainment under which Telepiu has bought exclusive pay TV rights to all films distributed in Italy by Polygram.

Telepiu director of programming Piero Crispino and PFE Intl. president Stewart Till said the titles acquired by Telepiu include "Bean" starring Rowan Atkinson; John Goodman's "The Borrowers"; and "What Dreams May Come" with Robin Williams.

PFE is a unit of Holland's Polygram NV, and includes production companies Interscope Communications, Island Pictures, Propaganda Films and Working Title Films. Telepiu is controlled by Canal Plus, which has 90% of its capital, and Silvio Berlusconi's Fininvest Group. It has 900,000 subscribers to its analog service and 120,000 households subscribing to its digital bouquet.

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