Universal

NBC Universal has unveiled plans to launch 20 new television channels around the world, including local versions of Sci-Fi, in a bid to more than double revenues from its global networks division over the next three years.

The media and entertainment giant said it was rolling out channels in 23 new countries across Europe, Asia and Latin America. The plans form part of a three-pronged strategy by new NBC Universal chief executive Jeff Zucker to focus on international growth alongside producing new programmes and making more of digital.

It echoes moves by a host of American media companies keen to exploit fast-growing markets like India and Eastern Europe as their own market in the US becomes increasingly saturated.

Under the overseas push, existing NBC Universal channel brands, including Sci-Fi, action and suspense channel 13th Street and the crime-focused Universal Channel, will launch into new markets across Asia, eastern Europe, Russia and India. Other countries set to get new channels this year and next include Portugal, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Turkey.

The move will almost double the group's number of local channels to reach a total of 58 countries - from 35 now - beginning with the launch of Sci-Fi in Latin America and Sci-Fi and 13th Street in the Netherlands.

Peter Smith, who runs all the group's non-US operations out of London said the "ambitious growth plan" was tapping into new opportunities from international pay-TV markets.

"We have the experience and resource to begin a targeted launch programme in priority markets, including wider distribution and more local production in the countries where we operate," he said.

"We look to markets with growing digital subscriber bases, emerging pay-television consumption, new platforms and new technologies."

NBC Universal's filmed entertainment, networks and cable television operations generated total international revenues of almost $3bn (£1.51bn) last year.

My Opinion: This will be a good idea, and Universal can pay their staff much more than they are already if they earn atleast twice as much. Also, they will become a bigger company than they already are.