The Walt Disney Company's Buena Vista International Television-Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP) today announced the first deal outside the U.S. for Disney-ABC Television Group's ABC News Now channel with Dish TV, India's leading digital terrestrial carrier. The 24-hour ABC News Now channel will launch on Dish TV's carriage later this year - subject to downlinking approval by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in India.
ABC News Now is a 24/7 international news channel that provides live breaking news coverage, complete shows, exclusives, news specials, in-depth coverage and more. ABC News Now also offers viewers exclusive uncut interviews from award-winning ABC news programming such as 20/20, Primetime and World News with Charles Gibson as well as insightful, original programs with the latest on health, money and Hollywood.
"We are delighted to have signed this agreement with Dish TV for the ABC News Now channel, and look forward to working closely with them to bring ABC's first class news service to the Indian audience." commented Steve Macallister, BVITV-AP's senior vice president and managing director. "India is a key strategic market for our company so this deal marks a particularly significant achievement."
"This is a major step forward for ABC News Now," said David Westin, president of ABC News. "As ABC News strives to reach news audiences anytime and anywhere around the globe, we are delighted that one of the largest English-speaking countries in the world should be our first step."
