NEW YORK (Reuters) - three months after the Oprah Winfrey cable television chain created in the United States, preparations are underway to introduce the network to an international audience.
Frameworks of Discovery Communications Inc., a co-owner of the network, said initial discussions took place with distributors in foreign markets, adding that they expected talks to turn more serious later in the year.
"We are confident, there are markets, in that it will do well," Mark Hollinger, who directs business Discovery international, said at a presentation on Friday. "We are confident, that there will be an international launch of the channel."
Hollinger has refused to identify the countries in the expansion plan. Other United States, Oprah Winfrey network can currently be seen in the Canada.
"We said, 'Let's focus on the United States, for the time being;" We are going to tend to this a little later this year,'"Said Hollinger."
A joint venture between the edifying society discovery production and Oprah Winfrey, OWN launched the United States earlier this year as a network largely oriented towards the female with a combination of lifestyle, advice and entertainment. Ratings have been mixed so far.
But Winfrey, considered the most influential women on the American television should devote more energy to OWN in the coming months after the last original episode of its popular syndicated television show, "the oprah winfrey Show" is broadcast on 25 May.
International Discovery for OWN plans are part of its growing effort to build its business abroad. Chief Executive David Zaslav password up to 40% his time away from the United States, he said, visit markets such as the Chile, the Romania, the Russia and the India.
Its efforts are changing the financial equilibrium of the discovery. Five years ago only 10 per cent of its business came from overseas markets. Today, about one-third of its is.
Given the rapid growth of Subscriber in the development of markets, Zaslav said that it would not surprised if the company reaches a "tipping point" in several years that would make it larger than the Interior of international trade.
"These are markets which is feeling as the United States 10 years", he said, a period he described as a "Storm" for the company when the ratings, on cable advertising and Subscriber figures were booming.
An advantage for the discovery is that number of his adventures and science shows seems cut on measure for an international audience, since they usually avoid inside jokes or cultural references that make comedies or delicate export dramas.
The result is that a large part of the budget of Discovery - it spends currently 1 billion per year for content - can be used for the shows that play as well in the United States and abroad. By contrast, said Hollinger, other media companies operating abroad "have to produce all of their content at the local level or acquire it".
A discovery zone closer to more carefully is 3D. While it has launched a US TV network in 3D full time, he has no current to follow abroad, said plan frameworks.
"Right now, it is possible that in a large number of markets, a complete chain is not the way," said Hollinger, adding that 3D video on demand would be more likely.
(Reported by Paul Thomasch.) (Editing by Richard Chang)
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