30-09-2007

MTV dedicated Hungarian service launched

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    MTV Networks International launched a new 24-hour dedicated Hungarian service on Oct. 1, with its own local programming in addition to its library of international material.


    The music and youth TV station has been quite active in the new member states of the European Union. It launched a broadband entertainment service, MTV on Demand, in Romania in April, and launched a WAP portal in Poland in February. Last year it launched MTV Turkey, MTV Baltics and Comedy Central in Poland. It already offers mobile TV on its local stations in Bulgaria, Romania, Poland and Malta. The goal is to have over 300 sites globally by the end of the year.

    "Our expansion in Hungary is an integral part of the strategy of the Emerging Markets Group and our Hungarian company plays a key role in our growth," Bhavneet Signgh, senior vice president of MTVNI Emerging Markets in London, said in a statement on June 12 announcing the upcoming launch. He has also said MTV is looking for a partner to gain a localised presence in the Czech Republic in 2008.

    MTV Networks International also announced on Sept. 18 it will launch its first pan-European high-definition (HD) channel in 2008, feating English-language music content and a daily morning children's programming block that will air shows from Nickelodeon.

    The HD channel will be operated by MTVNI's Emerging Markets Group, which will produce and broadcast the channel 24 hours a day from MTVNI's Warsaw hub.

    Four Polish-language channels also operate from Warsaw: MTV Polska, VH1, VIVA and Comedy Central.