Spain’s Antena 3 TV group has nabbed a package of HBO TV skeins for free-to-air channel Nitro.
The deal is led by Martin Scorsese’s Golden Globes-winner “Boardwalk Empire,” which Nitro plans to air next fall.
Pack includes HBO’s epic fantasy drama “Game of Thrones,” scheduled for an April 17 debut Stateside, plus Tom Hanks/Steven Spielberg-produced World War II miniseries “The Pacific” and “Band of Brothers.”
Launched Aug. 23, Nitro has rapidly attracted a male following. In December, it notched up a 1.2% share — a success given the audience fragmentation in Spanish TV.
This fragmentation has been driven in part by the launch of niche digital terrestrial TV channels, which jointly nabbed a record 22.4% share last month.
Nitro’s programming is dominated by studio dramas and movies after Antena 3 signed deals last summer with Warner, Fox and Universal. Nitro highlights include “24,” “The X-Files” and “Law and Order: CI.” Controlled by DeAPlaneta, Antena 3 Group operates four channels, headed by mass-audience web Antena 3 TV. The group averaged a 16.9% aud share in December.
