03/15/2012
FOX International Channels (FIC) Nordic Launches FOX in Finland
FIC will re-brand the recently acquired Suomi TV as FOX on April 16, 2012
FOX Finland will feature exclusive entertainment series and feature films, some of the best content from the National Geographic and lifestyle programs produced by the FIC’s food channel 24Kitchen as it expands to twelve daily broadcast hours
Finnish viewers will enjoy films and fiction series acquired from Twentieth Century FOX Television Distribution and the FIC co-produced series The Walking Dead, among others
Helsinki, March 15th, 2012 - FOX International Channels (FIC), which distributes TV channels and digital services worldwide and is the sister company of 20th Century FOX Studios, has announced today the launch of FOX as a free-to-air channel in Finland on April 16, 2012, bringing the FOX brand to Finnish television viewers for the first time along with some of the best entertainment, non-fiction and lifestyle content.
The re-branding of the recently acquired Suomi TV is the latest evidence of FIC’s commitment to the Finnish and Nordic markets, and to establishing FOX as one of the leading entertainment brands in the region. FOX Finland will introduce a raft of new programming as it expands to twelve broadcast hours per day from the existing seven. Entertainment series will include the popular US FOX Network animated series Family Guy and American Dad, as well as the hit American series and FIC global phenomenon The Walking Dead.
The channel will also feature some of the most popular feature film titles from Twentieth Century FOX, the best of National Geographic Channel’s factual series, and 24Kitchen’s food and lifestyle programming.
FOX Finland follows on the heels of the successful launch of FOX Crime in Norway last year and the ongoing consolidation of the Nordic distribution of FIC’s factual channels the National Geographic Channel, National Geographic Channel HD, Nat Geo Wild and Nat Geo Wild HD.
FIC distributes a diverse bouquet of 28 entertainment and factual channels worldwide anchored by the FOX and National Geographic brands.
“We are very pleased to bring FOX to the Finnish market. FOX has been tremendously successful globally as our flagship general entertainment channel and we’re confident that it will similarly establish FIC in Finland. This is a key step for us in Finland and in the Nordic market. With the combination of global experience and local talent on the ground, we are excited by the possibilities for FOX Finland,” says Jesús Perezagua, President FOX International Channels Europe.
“FOX is synonymous with great entertainment worldwide and we’re thrilled to bring the brand and all it represents to Finnish viewers. It’s an incredible legacy of quality and we’re looking forward to continuing that in Finland. When we assumed control of the channel two months ago, we made a commitment to increase broadcasting hours and bring some of the best content available to Finnish viewers. The launch of FOX and the content we’re featuring make good on that commitment,” says Ase Ytreland, Managing Director of FOX International Channels for Nordic & Baltic Regions.
"I'm thrilled with the opportunity to program FOX in Finland. The quality and variety of content, from fiction to factual to lifestyle, will provide Finnish viewers with fresh choices that they are certain to enjoy", says Mikko Silvennoinen, FOX Finland’s Director of Broadcast.
In addition to the content acquired from Twentieth Century FOX, FOX will offer National Geographic series including Air Crash Investigation and Banged Up Abroad -series which have already driven dramatic increases in channel viewership. These series will be complemented by programming from FIC’s lifestyle channel 24Kitchen - food and cooking programs highlighting good, fresh food.
FOX will continue to broadcast news and horse racing and plans to produce local content in the near future.