In a significant high-definition (HD) TV deal, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC has signed a deal with Sky HD to launch a number of Voom HD programming brands in Korea.

The deal is the first one for Voom outside of the United States and Canada. Greg Moyer, general manager of Voom HD Networks, told Satellite News that Voom considered the deal a "seminal" one as the HD channels provider looks to expand beyond its North American roots. "Finding our way on SkyHD with a daily diet of Voom programming for us is extremely important," he said. "Our long-term objective is to have Voom branded blocks or Voom channels available around the world. This is the beginning of that strategy made real. To have their endorsement and partnership and the opportunity to start in Asia is extremely exciting for us."

The deal will see Skylife one of the leading satellite pay-TV providers in Asia with nearly 2 million subscribers, launch HD programming drawn from a variety of the Voom HD network brands on its HD programming service. The daily, primetime two-hour block will feature content from five Voom HD network brands — Ultra HD, Rush HD, Equator HD, GamePlay HD and Monsters HD.

The deal likely will provide Voom will the opportunity to pursue more deals in Asia, Moyer said. "The Korean deal for us is the beginning of a much bigger world for Voom," he said. "We can’t be very specific here but it is certainly my expectation that we will have launched a full linear channel for select Asian territories by the end of the year. There are more deals in the pipeline. There are deals which have been partially negotiated but we are not ready to be specific yet as to where we will appear next. We are deeply involved in getting a full linear channel of Voom content launched in Asia by the end of the year."

Voom wants to become synonymous with HD, not just in the United States, but also around the world, Moyer said. "What is exciting about this moment for us is that, in many territories, Voom programming will be people’s first experience of HD," he said. "We will be in the founding club of channels and programmers that are making HD content available. So by being there, we will help define expectations and we will be able to embed our brand into people’s consciousness about being a quality HD brand, and that is really the mindshare we are looking to get by going out early."

While Voom’s plans in Asia look to be taking off, it may be more difficult for the company to penetrate the European market. Voom may have a deal to provide programming in Europe secured by the end of 2006, Moyer said. "In terms of Europe, we are entertaining a number of conversations and I would like to say it is our desire to have a European Voom feed available for a number of territories by the end of the year," he said. "But I am less confident that those deals will close as quickly as the Asia deals, which are further along. It could be anywhere from two to ten months. Something could be available later this year, but it is not a certainty."

Overall Voom hopes international channel deployments will eventually account for a significant portion of its revenues, Moyer said. "In 12 to 18 months, I would hope that 10 percent of our revenues was coming from international" customers, he said. "I hope it would be a significantly larger number than that in five years."

–Mark Holmes

Contact, Stacey Roberts, Rainbow Media, e-mail, [email protected]