BBC, TCI in talks
|
|
August 13, 1996: 11:27 a.m. ET
Deal could put BBC programming on new channels
|
NEW YORK (CNNfn) - The British Broadcasting Corporation and the European subsidiary of Tele-Communications Inc. on Tuesday confirmed they are in preliminary talks aimed at a business alliance.
Following published reports that the BBC and TCI-arm Flextech are in negotiations to launch as many as six cable and satellite television channels worldwide, the two companies issued statements saying they are weighing possibilities for an alliance.
The deal could give the BBC its long-anticipated entry into the U.S. market. The BBC has a large program library and has been looking at the potential of launching new subscription channels for some time, according to the Financial Times.
"Flextech has confirmed that they are in preliminary talks with the BBC concerning a possible joint venture," BBC spokesperson Jill Matthews told CNNfn. "As we look at our own digital future, we are talking to a wide range of organizations about possible developments. But we have nothing to announce at present."
Flextech, which provides European programming for Denver-based TCI, said in a brief statement that it will announce developments "as and when appropriate." Flextech operates several cable channels, including The Children's Channel and Bravo.
|
|
|
|
|
|