Sony Pictures TV Buying CSC Media Group

Sony Pictures Television today reached an agreement to acquire CSC Media Group in the United Kingdom. Under the agreement, SPT will own and operate the 16 ad-supported channels, pending regulatory approval. The price was not disclosed.

The deal has been struck between SPT Networks and private equity firm Veronis Suhler Stevenson, majority shareholders in the CSC Media Group, with SPT acquiring 100% of the company.

“The acquisition of CSC further demonstrates our commitment to the UK market and our intent to continue to grow our tremendously successful global portfolio of networks,” said Andy Kaplan, president of worldwide networks for Sony Pictures Television. “These new channels perfectly complement our current offerings, allowing us to provide viewers with a variety of entertainment choices and advertisers with greater reach and cross-channel opportunities.”

Remy Minute, CEO of CSC Media Group, said: “CSC has grown from a small bouquet channel operator to become one of the leading multi-channel ad-supported TV  networks in the U.K. This combination with SPT allows us to accelerate our growth trajectory, both internationally and domestically.”

Following the acquisition, SPT Networks said it will be the No. 5 cable/satellite/multichannel player in the U.K. market in commercial ad views. Advertising on all of SPT’s channels is sold by Sky. Once the acquisition is concluded, the company will report to Kate Marsh, SPT’s senior vice president, Networks, Western Europe.

SPT entered the UK market in 2011 with one channel feed (Sony Entertainment Television) on Sky and had grown to nine channel feeds across multiple platforms including two free-to-air national feeds on Freeview, reaching a combined total of more than 20 million viewers per month.

Channel brands include Sony Entertainment Television, Sony Movie Channel, Movies 4 Men, and Movie Mix. This acquisition complements SPT’s current movie and entertainment channels and expands its offering into the music and children’s genres with the addition of brands including True Entertainment, Pop and Chart ShowTV.

Additionally, the deal expands SPT’s reach on Freeview from two to four channels. The CSC channels are also distributed internationally in Ireland and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Berenson & Co. acted as exclusive financial adviser to SPT on this transaction. Lepe Partners acted as financial adviser to CSC.