MUMBAI: AMC/Sundance Channel Global is bolstering its programming slate at the on-going television trade event MipTV by acquiring the rights to a range of new productions, series and independent films, including ?Weeds?, ?Damages?, ?The Straits?, ?The Slap? and independent films from festivals including Sundance Film Festival, Cannes, Venice and more.

These announcements follow recent agreements with premier Pay TV platforms across multiple key markets in Europe and Asia for new launches of its international television networks and video-on-demand (VOD) services.

AMC/Sundance Channel Global president Bruce Tuchman said, "AMC/Sundance Channel Global has experienced expanded growth over a very short time and while our advanced rights offering and robust VOD services are embraced by operators, it is our outstanding programming that caters to a hungry audience and continues to drive the growth of our business. These acquisitions reinforce our commitment to offering high quality, independent-minded programming to international audiences across multiple platforms."

Weeds? has been acquired for Sundance Channel in France and French Benelux through a deal with Lionsgate. The agreement includes rights to the series through season four. ?Damages? has been acquired for Sundance Channel in Spain and Portugal through an agreement with Sony Pictures Television. The agreement includes rights to the series through season five. ?The Straits? is a darkly humorous crime drama series set in Australia. Premiere window rights have been acquired for Sundance Channel in Eastern Europe, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, France, Benelux and select territories in Asia through an agreement with DCD Rights.

The Slap?, meanwhile, is a new drama mini-series based on the bestselling book by Christos Tsiolkas. Sundance Channel has acquired premiere window rights for the series to air in Dutch Benelux through an agreement with DCD Rights.

This agreement builds on the channel?s previously acquired rights for the programme in Eastern Europe, Spain,Portugal, Greece, Turkey and Asia. 2 Films have been acquired including ?Bellflower? and ?Myth of the American Sleepover?. The deal includes over 25 premiere window titles on Sundance Channel in Eastern Europe and Belgium. Currently, viewers in Europe and Asia can find shows such as ?Mad Men?, ?The Walking Dead?, ?Breaking Bad? and ?Hell on Wheels? on Sundance Channel. Last week, Sundance Channel?s sister channel AMC in the US debuted season five of "Mad Men" with a two-hour premiere, which resulted in record ratings making it the most watched episode ever from the series.

MUMBAI: US media company AMC Networks‘ third quarter net revenue increased $12 million, or 4.6 per cent, to $284 million over the third quarter of 2010, led by 3.9 per cent growth at National Networks.

Adjusted operating cash flow totalled $123 million, an increase of 14.6 per cent, or $16 million versus the prior year period. The AOCF increase resulted from 16 per cent growth at National Networks partially offset by a $1 million decline in AOCF at International and Other.

Operating income was $94 million, an increase of 22.8 per cent or $18 million versus the prior year period. The operating income increase resulted from 24.1 per cent growth at National Networks partially offset by a $1 million increase in the operating loss at International and Other.

AMC president, CEO Josh Sapan said, "The core of our growth strategy continues to be our investment in original programming. The Walking Dead season two premiere, which was the highest rated dramatic show ever in basic cable history against key adult demos, and our performance in the 2011-2012 upfront, underscores the strength of this strategy. In September, AMC also won a record fourth consecutive Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series for ‘Mad Men‘. Our programming successes are reflected in solid financial results as we continued to increase net revenues, AOCF and operating income in the third quarter."

For the nine months ended 30 September 2011, net revenues increased $69 million, or 8.8 per cent to $849 million, AOCF increased $33 million, or 11.1 per cent to $335 million, and operating income increased $38 million, or 18 per cent to $247 million, all compared to the prior year period.

Third quarter net income from continuing operations was $40 million ($0.56 per diluted share), compared with $34 million ($0.49 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2010. The increase resulted from the growth in operating income and a decrease in income tax expense partially offset by an increase in interest expense.1 Net income from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30 2011 was $97 million ($1.38 per diluted share), compared with $88 million ($1.28 per diluted share) in the prior year period.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $202 million for the first nine months of 2011, an increase of $8 million from the prior year period. The increase was the result of the improved operating performance and a reduction in cash interest payments partially offset by increased working capital and income tax payments.

Free cash flow for the first nine months of 2011 was $195 million, an increase of $8 million from the prior year period. The results reflect the increase in net cash provided by operating activities and flat capital expenditures over the prior year period.

National Networks consisting of the company‘s four US distributed programming networks, AMC, WE tv, IFC and Sundance Channel Networks, revenues for the third quarter increased by 3.9 per cent to $258 million, AOCF rose by 16 per cent to $123 million, and operating income grew 24.1 per cent to $99 million, all compared to the prior year period.

National Networks revenues for the nine months ended 30 September 2011 increased by 7.6 per cent to $777 million, AOCF rose by 9.9 per cent to $346 million, and operating income grew by 15.5 per cent to $272 million, all compared to the prior year period.

Growth in third quarter revenues was primarily led by a 6.9 per centincrease in affiliate and other revenues. The increase in affiliate and other revenues was primarily attributable to increases in affiliate rates and viewing subscribers at AMC and WE tv as well as a non-recurring contractual adjustment that benefited Sundance Channel and IFC results.

Advertising revenues in the quarter were essentially flat primarily due to the absence of Mad Men, which aired on AMC in the prior year period. For the nine months ended 30 September 2011, ad revenues grew by 11.6 per cent over the comparable prior year period.

Third quarter AOCF increased by 16 per cent to $123 million reflecting the increase in revenues as well as a decrease of 5.1 per cent in operating expenses. The decrease in operating expenses was primarily attributable to lower marketing and corporate expenses partially offset by an increase in programming expenses as compared to the prioryear period.

Operating income totaled $99 million, an increase of $19 million or 24.1 per cent. The increase reflects the growth in AOCF as well as a reduction in amortisation and share based compensation expense.

International and Other consisting of AMC/Sundance Channel Global, the company‘s international programming business; IFC Films, the company‘s independent film distribution business; AMC Networks Broadcasting and Technology, the company‘s network technical services business; and Voom HD.

International and Other revenues for the third quarter of 2011