Estreno Digital reels in U.S. Studio title for PPV

Cabler pays $13.8 mil for 150 pix from U, Fox, Par, Col, MGM

By EMILIANO DE PABLOS

MADRID — Spanish cabler Estreno Digital has inked nonexclusive PPV pic accords with five U.S. studios.

The deals, for a total value of 2.5 billion pesetas ($13.8 million) allows Estreno to access more than 150 pics a year from Universal, 20th Century Fox, Paramount, Columbia TriStar and MGM. Terms of pacts vary from three to five years.

Estreno is the content provider created by Spain’s biggest association of cable TV operators, the Asociacion de Operadores de Cable (AOC).

Pics were to begin broadcasting last Friday on the operators’ Mirador pay-per-view service. Standout titles include “Shakespeare in Love,” “The Mask of Zorro” and “8MM.”

Execs at Estreno suggested it could move into Spanish pic financing.

Mulling prod’n move

“In a first phase, we may strike accords with local distribbers. Beyond that we’re considering going into local pic production,” Estreno CEO Sonia Talarewitz told Daily Variety.

AOC reps 11 regional operators. It is the cable arm of Auna, the biggest telco rival to Telefonica in Spain.

Read the full article at:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117781925.html

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