Monday, May 21, 2007

TV18, Viacom set for JV

Media conglomerate TV18 group is likely to sign an agreement with US entertainment major Viacom to float a general entertainment joint venture.

The 50:50 venture is likely to be signed tomorrow during the visit of Viacom CEO and President Phillipe P Dauman, who is arriving in India late tonight, industry sources said.The JV is likely to invest about Rs 500 crore and Viacom's popular music channel MTV in India is understood to be transferred to the joint venture, the sources said.

The planned JV between Viacom, which has channels like VH1 and Nickledeon, and TV18, one of India's major electronic media groups running business news channels and a website, comes at a time when television entertainment sector in India is witnessing a churn.

Viacom also owns Country Music Television, Spike TV and more than 120 networks around the world. It is also one of the leading creators of programming and content having media platforms such as Paramount Pictures and Paramount Home Entertainment.

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