International Media Distribution
- Ethnic media
- Broadcasting
- Broadcasting
- Marketing
International Media Distribution (IMD) (formerly International Networks), a division of NBCUniversal, is a leading provider of in-language networks which facilitates the distribution of Asian, European, Middle Eastern and Hispanic channels and Video On Demand services across all platforms including, cable, satellite and OTT.
History
Originally launched as International Channel Networks in 1996, the company was owned by Liberty Media (which was the majority owner with a 90% stake) and JJS II Communications, LLC (which owned the remaining 10% share).[1] They owned and operated The International Channel or I-Channel, which was a basic cable channel that launched in 1990[2] and featured multilingual, multi-ethnic programming to audiences in the United States. The channel offered programming from Europe, Asia & the Middle East in over 25 languages. In 1998, the company began offering a tier of premium networks featuring various channels from around the world. This tier has since grown and currently consists of over 50 networks.
In July 2004, as part of a larger deal, International Channel Networks was sold to Comcast. In 2005, Comcast re-branded the International Channel as AZN Television, a channel catering to Asian Americans and featuring several original programmes. The company was subsequently renamed International Networks.
On April 9, 2008, AZN television ceased operations as Comcast decided to shut down the channel due to distribution and advertising difficulties.[3]
On March 10, 2009, Comcast decided to rename the company as International Media Distribution. The re-brand was undertaken to reflect the growth of the company and to emphasize the focus which is now on the distribution of premium international channels from around the world.[4] In 2011, Comcast completed its purchase of NBCUniversal,[5] thereafter IMD was reorganized under the international television distribution arm of NBCUniversal rather than the Comcast Entertainment Group.
Premium Television Networks
Current
International Media Distribution’s portfolio includes over 50 networks from across the world including:
Arabic
Chinese
- CCTV-4
- CGTN Documentary
- CTI-Zhong Tian Channel
- Phoenix North America Chinese Channel
- Phoenix InfoNews Channel
- Phoenix Hong Kong Channel (Cantonese)
- CGTN (English)
Filipino
- The Filipino Channel (TFC)
- Myx TV (English)
- ABS-CBN News Channel
- Cinema One
- Lifestyle Network
French
- TV5MONDE
- TV5MONDE Cinema On Demand
- Tivi5MONDE
- TV5MONDE Info
- TV5MONDE Style
German
Greek
Italian
Japanese
Korean
- TVK
- TVK2
- TVK-Pop On Demand
Polish
Russian
- Channel One Russia
- Dom Kino Premium
- TeleCafe
- RTN
- RTN+
- THT
South Asian
- ABP News
- Eros Now (Subscription VOD)
- TV Asia
- Aapka Colors
- Colors Rishtey
- MTV India
- Colors Cineplex
- Colors Tamil
- Colors Kannada
- Colors Bangla
- Colors Marathi
- News 18
Spanish
- Cinema Dinamita
- Picardia Nacional
- PX Sports
- VePlus
Vietnamese
References
- ^ "International Channel Networks". Archived from the original on 2003-04-03. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
International Channel Networks is the trade name of International Cable Channels Partnership, Ltd. (a company 90% owned by Liberty Media Corporation [NYSE: L and LMC.B] and 10% owned by JJS II Communications, LLC).
- ^ "IC - About IC". International Channel. Archived from the original on 2000-08-16. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
The company programs and distributes a basic cable television channel, International Channel. This service provides programming from around the world in more than 20 Asian, European and Middle Eastern languages. Programming includes news, sports, movies, music and general entertainment programs. International Channel is available to more than 8 million cable television subscribers in the United States. The channel launched in 1990.
- ^ Comcast Pulls Plug on AZN, Broadcasting & Cable, January 28, 2008
- ^ International Networks Is Now International Media Distribution, International Media Distribution, March 10, 2009
- ^ "Comcast completes NBC Universal merger". Reuters. 2011-01-29. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
External links
- Official website
- v
- t
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Universal Filmed Entertainment Group | |
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Universal Studio Group |
& Experiences Group
United States | |
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International |
Television networks |
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Streaming |
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NBC Sports Group |
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International Networks | |
Other assets |
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- Telemundo
- Telemundo Studios
- Universo
- Telemundo Deportesw/NBC Sports Group
- Noticias Telemundo
O&Os
NBC Owned TV Stations | |
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Telemundo Station Group |
- Affiliate relations
- NBC
- Telemundo
- EMKA, Ltd.
- International Media Distribution
Main divisions | |
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CNBC global channels | |
CNBC Europe branches |
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CNBC Asia branches |
properties
- 13th Street (Australia)
- Canal+ Group
- Castle Films
- Chapman Entertainment
- Chiller
- Chiller Films
- CIC Video
- Cloo
- CNBC-e
- Comcast Network
- Craftsy
- Diva
- Diva Universal (Italy)
- E! (Asia)
- Entertainment Rights
- Esquire Network
- Fearnet
- Filmation
- FilmDistrict
- G4
- Good Machine
- Gramercy Pictures
- Hallmark Channel (international)
- ITC Entertainment
- Interscope Communications
- Miss Universe*
- Multimedia Entertainment
- NBCSN
- NBC Sports Northwest
- NBC Weather Plus
- October Films
- Pacific Data Images
- Peacock Productions
- PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
- Propaganda Films
- Savoy Pictures
- Shift
- Seeso
- Spencer Gifts
- Style Network (Australia)
- Syfy (Asia)
- Syfy (Australia)
- Tell-Tale Productions
- Total Television
- UPA
- Universal Channel (Asia)
- Universal Channel (Greece)
- Universal Channel (Japan)
- Universal Channel (Poland)
- Universal TV (UK and Ireland)
- Universal Interactive
- Universal Music Group
- Universal Channel (Turkey)
- Vivendi Universal Games
- Walter Lantz Productions
- Western Publishing
- Gold Key Comics
- Whitman Publishing
- Golden Books Family Entertainment
- Woodland Animations
- ZGS Communications