Mediaset Italia Makes U.S. Cable Debut with Comcast

XFINITY® TV Customers in parts of NJ & PA Are First To Receive Italian-language Channel Offering Best Programming from Italy's Top Channels

Rome, Italy (PRWEB) July 11, 2011

After much anticipation, Mediaset Italia is now available in the U.S. for the first time. Following the completion of an affiliation agreement with Comcast, Mediaset Italia can now be seen in parts of Comcast's Freedom region via subscription. Comcast launched the 24-hour Italian language channel direct from Italy into North and Central New Jersey and Bucks County, PA. The launch came in response to the growing need for additional Italian programming in one of the nation's top Italian-speaking markets.

“Comcast is dedicated to providing our customers with the information and entertainment choices that reflect the diverse interests and connects them with what's important in their lives,” said Eric Schaefer, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Comcast's Freedom Region.

“Mediaset Italia is very excited to have our network available in the U.S. on America's largest cable provider,” said Patricio Teubal, Head of Sales for Mediaset Italia. “We are eager to partner with Comcast to provide top quality Italian programming to customers in the Northeast with hopes to expand our service into other markets soon.”

“At Comcast, we are happy to continue offering the best of the best to our customers” said Natalie Rouse, Director, Ethnic Marketing, Comcast. “With Mediaset Italia, we truly believe we have a winning partnership and look forward to serving thousands of Italian American households in a whole new way."

Mediaset Italia is a 24-hour Italian-language channel offering the best programming from Italy's top channels: Canale 5, Italia 1 and Retequattro. Its programming schedule is strategically created to offer the all of the key primetime offerings from all three channels in addition to the best general Italian language entertainment programming available. Mediaset Italia also offers daily news, sports and movies to appeal to the 15 million Italian Americans in the United States including 250,000 Italian speakers.

Mediaset Italia programming highlights include:

NON SMETTERE DI SOGNARE (Follow Your Dreams), a family drama program set against the competitive world of dance and the double-edged sword of reality TV.

RIS ROMA 2, a CSI-style investigation drama show which follows a team looking into a gang perpetrating disturbing crimes.

LE IENE SHOW (Reservoir Dogs), an entertainment journalism & current affairs program presented by pair Luca and Paolo, and assisted by Ilary Blasi, known for its ironic tone and biting approach to the news.

TG5, one of the most watched news programs in Italy.

For programming schedules and descriptions, please visit http://www.mediasetitalia.com.

Mediaset Italia is available on Xfinity TV from Comcast in New Jersey (specifically North and Central New Jersey and Bucks County, PA) on channel 678 in a two-channel Italian package with Rai Italia for $14.99 per month. To subscribe, customers should call 1-800-XFINITY (1-800-934-6489) or visit http://www.comcast.com/internationaltv for more information.

About Mediaset Italia
Mediaset Italia is a new linear channel from Italy's leading media group, Mediaset. Mediaset's core business is media and entertainment, boasting 19 TV channels, ranging from free to pay TV, pay-per-view and online content as well as production subsidiaries operating in television and cinema. Mediaset Italia's programming airs a few hours/days after its original broadcasts on mainstream national TV channels in Italy (Canale 5, Italia 1 and Retequattro). The channel is targeted to the 60 million Italians living around the world and to the people who love Italy, its culture and its beauty. The programming schedule offers all the key primetime Mediaset programs and all the best of its general entertainment, soccer, fiction, fun, news, and soft news coming from the three mainstream TV channels.

About International Media Distribution 
International Media Distribution (IMD) has been a leading provider of in‐language programming in the U.S. for over a decade. IMD represents over 30 TV channels including two SVOD services with content from a variety of international sources: Antenna Satellite (Greek), ART (Arabic), ATV (Cantonese), Bollywood Hits On Demand (Hindi), CCTV‐4 (Chinese), CTI‐Zhong Tian Channel (Chinese), Channel One Russia , Deutsche Welle (German), Filipino On Demand (Tagalog), Mediaset Italia (Italian), MYX (English), Phoenix InfoNews (Chinese), Phoenix North America Chinese Channel, Rai Italia (Italian), RTN (Russian), RTN Plus (Russian), SBTN (Vietnamese), STAR India GOLD (Hindi), STAR India NEWS (Hindi), STAR ONE (Hindi), STAR India PLUS (Hindi), TFC & TFC-E (Filipino), Tele5 (Polish), TV Polonia, TVP Info (Polish), TV Asia (Hindi), TV JAPAN, TVK (Korean), TVK2 (Korean), TV5MONDE (French), VIJAY (Tamil).

Media Contact:
David Kaufer
david.kaufer (at) zenwerks (dot) com
425-275-8814

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