NBC U Buys International Hallmark Channels

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 8/28/2007 2:59:00 AM

NBC Universal has made a deal to buy Sparrowhawk Holdings, which owns international cable channels including the international versions of The Hallmark Channel, and overseas rights to the former Crown Media/Hallmark programming library.

The move is part of NBC Universal President and CEO Jeff Zucker's plan to more than double its international cable assets in the next three years. In addition to the Hallmark brand overseas--The Hallmark Chanel in the U.S. is not involved in the deal--Sparrowhawk channels include Movies 24, Diva TV and a stake in KidsCo.

Several reports put the price tag at about $350 million, though NBC was not commenting. Sparrowhawk reportedly paid something just north of $240 million for the assets back in 2005.

Sparrowhawk is principally owned by venture capitalists Providence Equity Partners and 3i.

NBC also picks up a Denver-based transmission facility that delivers the channels as well as the 580 library titles.

A spokewoman for the U.S. Hallmark Channel says that network is not for sale, pointing out that the NBC buy was to boost that company's international footprint.

Talkback

We would love your feedback!

Post a comment

» View All Talkback Threads

Related Content

• Topics
• Author

Technicolor Signs Distribution Deal with NBCU

07/02/2008

Shields upped at NBC U

06/15/2009

Left Coast Bias: Is Jeff Zucker the Smartest Man in TV After All?

12/15/2008

Zucker to stay at NBCU under Comcast reign, reports say

10/12/2009

Ben Silverman Leaves NBC to Start New Company With Barry Diller's IAC

07/27/2009

Also by this author

• Waivers No Help to Failing Stations

• Broadcasters Reject Wireless Providers Calls to Curtail Over-the-Air Digital Service

• Free Press Launches Online Campaign To Block Comcast/NBCU

• Senate Satellite Markup Expected Nov. 17

• NCTA Implores Need For Flexibility in Managing Cyber Attacks

Also by John Eggerton

Product Wire

• Resource Center
• Browse Categories
• Browse Companies

Featured Company

• Grab Networks

  

  Created from the merger between Anystream and Voxant Media, Grab Networks offers a comprehensive video operating system and syndication network for profitably publishing video anywhere on the Internet. The system automatically manages, transcodes... more

• Parks Associates

  

  Parks Associates is an internationally recognized market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services. Founded in 1986, Parks Associates creates research capital for companies ranging from... more

• Telestream

  

  Telestream products are used by the world's leading media and entertainment companies and corporations for transcoding and workflow automation. Telestream helps customers transform their media for multiplatform distribution to web, mobile, DVD... more

• Digital Rapids

  

  Digital Rapids is the leading provider of professional hardware and software tools, technology and expertise for bringing video to wider audiences and new viewing platforms. Continuing to set new standards in quality, productivity and versatility... more

• Akamai

  

  Akamai provides market-leading managed services for powering rich media, dynamic transactions, and enterprise applications online. Having pioneered the content delivery market one decade ago, Akamai's services have been adopted by the world's most... more

---

Most Recent Resources

• Robust Encoding, Transcoding and Streaming Systems – Critical...
• Simultaneous Multi-Format Encoding for Efficient Content Repurposing
• Broadband Services: The Turning Point
• Digital Lifestyles and the Service Provider
• IPTV and the Digital Home