The Latin American market continues to grow rapidly, and in so doing is extending the usual rules of ‘think global, act local’ for many international broadcasters. Fox Sports is one such player which has now agreed to create a dedicated HDTV spin-off channel feed for its pay-TV service into Colombia. It will go live early in 2013.

Fox has secured plenty of exclusive sporting action, including the Barclays Premier League, Italy’s Calcio Serie A, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, FIFA Mundial de Clubes, Formula 1, Tennis ATP World Tour and UFC. They have also signed a 200 hours production contract with Torneos y Competencias for extra locally-focused sports. The new feed will also include the exclusive broadcast of every Colombian team’s games in the Santander Libertadores Cup and the South American Bridgestone Cup.

Not to be outdone is the BBC, with its BBC Worldwide commercial arm wrapping an agreement with Colombian pay-TV operator UNE to add the BBC’s HD feed to its digital platform. From August onwards, subscribers to the HD Premium package in Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla, Manizales, Pereira, Cartagena and Cucuta will be able to enjoy BBC’s HD signal.

“Colombia is one of the Latin American markets with the highest Pay TV penetration and one with the biggest growth rates year after year, in which HD channels are a perfect means to show the high quality content by which BBC is known for all around the world,” stated Sergio Leos, BBC Worldwide Channels Latin America’s Marketing, Communications and Audience VP.

Categories: Articles, Broadcast, Content, Pay TV