Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. is reportedly set to announce
plans to deliver TV services across Latin America, according to
Sallie Hofmeister of the L.A. TIMES. Murdoch will divulge a
joint venture with the Globo network, Brazil's largest
programmer, and Mexico's Grupo Televisa, the world's leading
creator of Spanish language programming. Murdoch recently stated
News Corp. would spend close to $500M with Globo to "launch
Netsat satellite service by March," and predicted partners could
have 4.5M subscribers within several years. But analysts say
since the market is "less developed," the venture is comparable
to Murdoch's StarTV in Asia which "has been living off modest
advertising revenues as it builds subscriptions." The new
venture "could combine" Fox programming with that of Globo, Grupo
Televisa, and the new global sports venture with Liberty Media.
A source close to News Corp. said TCI Chair John Malone "is in on
this, too" as he has soccer rights in Argentina (L.A. TIMES,
11/20). The move "is a big leap" for Murdoch in his drive to
become a global distributor of TV programming (John Lippman, WALL
STREET JOURNAL, 11/20).
