MTV Networks Latin America and Grupo Televisa S.A., the largest media company in the Spanish-speaking world, have entered into a multiyear, multiplatform strategic alliance, officials said Wednesday.
The pact will add MTVN Latin America’s licensing, merchandising and publishing businesses to the existing pay TV and broadcast distribution agreements with Televisa.
Carriage for MTV: Music Television, Nickelodeon and VH1 will continue on Sky Mexico and Cablevision, and transmission of the MTVN digital services -- MTV Hits, MTV Jams, VH1 Soul, VH1 Megahits and GAS -- will continue on Cablevision.
Under the existing broadcast agreement, Channel 5 will continue to air Nick programming blocks that include shows such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer.
Also under the agreement, Televisa will be the exclusive agent for Nick’s consumer products in Mexico. It marks the first time a global media giant like MTVN has partnered with a broadcaster in Mexico to manage its licensing and merchandising business.
On the publishing end, Televisa will be in charge of the relaunch of Revista Nick, which is set for next month.
“This partnership brings together two powerhouses with great expertise in complementing areas,” Pierluigi Gazzolo, senior vice president of distribution for MTVN Latin America, said in a prepared statement.
“Televisa’s strong leadership as a multimedia company and its broad distribution capability, joined with MTV Networks Latin America’s impressive brand awareness and its high-quality international content, take the multimedia market in Mexico to a whole new level,” he added.
Also Wednesday, MTVN Latin America said it will introduce more digital channels in Brazil.
Starting Nov. 5, Net Servicios will carry the U.S. feeds of MTVN digital services MTV Hits and VH1 Soul, while Neo TV Association will offer its affiliates MTV Hits, MTV Jams, VH1 Soul and GAS.
