AXN Sci Fi beams into 3 million CIS homes

By Julian Clover
June 8, 2010 11.13 UK

Sony Pictures Television has announced that its science fiction-based channel AXN Sci-Fi is now available to over three million homes in Russia and the CIS.

Launched in December 2007, SPT has negotiated carriage agreements for AXN SCI-FI throughout Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan on systems such as NTV Plus, Akado, Comstar OTS, Multiregion, ER Telecom, Stream and other smaller operators, reaching into Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Perm, Penza, Novosibirsk, Rostov, Saratov and Ufa.

“AXN SCI-FI continues to gain momentum in Russia and the CIS countries, which are increasingly important markets for us,” commented Ross Hair, executive vice president, international networks, SPT. “We are delighted with the response we’ve had from pay-TV operators, viewers and advertisers alike – for whom the AXN Sci-Fi brand resonates strongly – and are committed to providing the best in science fiction entertainment to audiences in the region.”

Like its NBC Universal competitor Syfy, AXN Sci-Fi mixes science fiction, supernatural and fantasy entertainment, including popular series such as the Stargate and Star Trek franchises, Eureka, The 4400, Reaper, Supernatural and Smallville. It also has the rights to Lost, which is currently reaching the end of its sixth and final season.

SPT’s second network, Sony Entertainment Television, recently announced that it is now available in over five million homes in Russia and the countries of the CIS.