New Network to Launch in July
NEW YORK/MIAMI (April 23, 2014) – A+E Networks Latin America, a joint venture between A+E Networks and Ole Communications, and Sony Pictures Television today announced that they will launch Lifetime in Latin America and Brazil. The channel will debut in July 2014. The announcement was made today by Eduardo (Eddy) Ruiz, President and General Manager of A+E Networks Latin America, who will serve as General Manager for the new channel.
“I couldn’t be prouder of heading up this new joint venture between A+E Networks Latin America and Sony Pictures Television,” said Ruiz. “Lifetime is one of US cable’s biggest brands, and our expectations are that the brand will perform well in Latin America.”
Lifetime will feature a three-part content strategy of scripted drama series, non-fiction series and award-winning original movies. Scripted drama series include the premiere of Witches of East End™, starring Julia Ormond, Mädchen Amick, Jenna Dewan Tatum and Rachel Boston, and the new seasons of Devious Maids™ produced by Eva Longoria, starring Roselyn Sanchez, Ana Ortiz and Susan Lucci and Drop Dead Diva® starring Brooke Elliott. Unscripted series include the hit Dance Moms®, Bring It! and Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition®, Kim of Queens™ and the new season of Preachers’ Daughters®.
The channel will boast a wealth of A-list talent both in front of and behind the camera. Hit US shows already confirmed as part of the channel’s programming also includes exclusive territory premieres in basic cable of Lifetime original movies: Steel Magnolias, starring Queen Latifah; Liz & Dick, starring Lindsay Lohan; Drew Peterson: Untouchable, starring Rob Lowe; Talhotblond, directed by Courtney Cox; and Call Me Crazy: A Five Film, from executive producer Jennifer Aniston.
“We are thrilled to partner with Sony Pictures Television for the launch of Lifetime in Latin America and Brazil,” said Sean Cohan, Executive Vice President, International, A+E Networks. “Lifetime and its content have an extremely loyal fan-base around the globe, and we are confident that it will develop an equally loyal audience in the Latin American region.”
T.C. Schultz, Executive Vice President & Managing Director for Sony Pictures Television's Networks in Latin America and Brazil said, "Working with A+E Networks Latin America to create a premiere network dedicated to women gives us the opportunity to combine our resources. This joint venture further solidifies our goal of delivering the widest breadth of great entertainment to audiences in Brazil and Latin America and complements our other channels in the region."
“We are very pleased to join our long-time partners, Sony and A+E, in this new joint venture that makes possible the arrival of Lifetime in Latin America. Lifetime will be distributed by HBO Latin America Group and is an excellent complement to our basic channel offering in the region, bringing a channel dedicated specifically to the Latin American female audience and full of proven and successful programming,” said Enrique Cusco, CEO of Ole Communications.
A+E Networks Latin America, a joint venture between A+E Networks and Ole Communications, was formed in 1996. It currently operates History, A&E, BIO, and H2 across Latin America and Brazil. Lifetime reaches over 170 million homes in the US, Canada, Southeast Asia and the UK.
About A+E Networks®
A+E Networks®, LLC. is an award-winning, global media content company offering consumers a diverse communications environment ranging from television networks to websites, to home videos/DVDs to gaming and educational software. A+E Networks® is comprised of A&E® Network, Lifetime®, History®, Lifetime Movie Network®, Bio™, H2™, History en Espaňol™, Crime & Investigation Network™, Military History™, Lifetime Real Women®, A&E IndieFilms®, A+E Networks International®, A+E Networks Digital® and A+E Networks Consumer Products™. A+E Networks® channels and branded programming reach more than 330 million households in over 160 countries. A+E Networks, LLC. is a joint venture of Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation.
About A+E Networks Latin America®
A+E Networks Latin America is a joint venture of A+E Television Networks and Ole Communications. A+E Networks Latin America is a media company comprised of television channels A&E, HISTORY, H2 and Bio, which rank among the most widely recognized and prestigious in the market and reach more than 44 million households throughout Latin America. The channels are distributed by HBO Latin America Group SM to cable and satellite affiliates in Latin America, Brazil and the Caribbean, in addition to the signals for HBO®, HBO Plus®, Cinemax®, MAX®, A&E, HISTORY, Bio, Sony Entertainment Television®, AXN, Sony Spin, Warner Channel and E! Entertainment Television Latin America.
About Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television (http://www.sonypicturestelevision.com), a Sony Pictures Entertainment company, is one of the television industry’s leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, around the world and for a multitude of platforms. In addition to one of the industry’s largest libraries of award-winning feature films, television shows and formats, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) boasts a current program slate that includes top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. In addition to its US production business, SPT has 18 wholly-owned or joint venture production companies in 12 countries and also maintains offices in 32 countries. SPT’s worldwide television networks portfolio includes 130 channel feeds available in 159 countries, reaching more than 840 million households worldwide. SPT also creates original content for and manages SPE’s premium video website, Crackle. Additionally, SPT owns US production company Embassy Row and is a part owner of cable channel Game Show Network (GSN), 3D channel 3net, premier horror/thriller website and VOD service FEARnet and national U.S media sales company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT advertiser sales is one of the premier national advertising sales companies and handles the commercial inventory in SPT’s syndicated series as well as for FEARnet, the Rural Media Group, and DrOz.com.
About Ole Communications™
Ole Communications is a multi-media company and a member and founding partner of the HBO Latin America Group (a joint venture with Time Warner), A+E Networks Latin America (a joint venture with A+E Networks) and E! Entertainment Latin America (a joint venture with HBO and NBC-Universal). The Company also provides advertising sales, technical and administrative support to several of its joint ventures and other networks serving Latin America. The joint venture basic channels, A&E, History, Bio, H2 and E! Entertainment, are distributed throughout Latin America by the HBO Latin America Group.
Show in Timeline – THIS IS NOT FOR PRESS RELEASES:
Primary Press Contact:
Kerri Tarmey
Other Press Contacts:
Shannon Kerr