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Five Scandinavian public service broadcasters are at the final stages of negotiations concerning a joint pay-TV offering for the U.S. market targeting the estimated 12 million ethnic Scandinavians living in the United States.
Agreements for the Scandinavian Channel are expected to be finalised next month, with the channel expecting to launch this September as a premium channel costing $8 per month. Already, some Scandinavian Channel programming is being distributed on The International Channel, a Denver-based cable channel that reaches about 8.5 million homes.
Established by U.S. based Norwegian entrepreneur Steinar Hybertsen in January 1998, channel programming is derived via exclusive programme provider agreements with Nordic broadcasters NRK (Norway), SVT (Sweden), DR (Denmark), YLE (Finland) and RUV (Iceland).
Programming will continue to be drawn from the public broadcasters. Currently, International Channel devotes a one-hour weekend slot to Scandinavian Channel's output. Additionally, Scand- inavian Channel produces and distributes a 13-hour Scandinavian programme to PBS affiliates.
The channel's programming line-up will include Scandinavian sports, educational programming, country-focused weekly news round- ups and travel...