SPI gears up for 4K channel launch

European channel group SPI International has acquired programming from NBCUniversal, while preparing for the launch of its first 4K network.

The NBCU deal gives it close to 100 first-run film titles in the Czech Republic and Slovakia including Fast and Furious 6, Despicable Me 2 and 47 Ronin and run on the FilmBox Premium channel.

Meanwhile, the Ulta HD channel will be called 4K FunBox UHD. Acquisitions for the channel are being sought an finalised here in Cannes at MIPTV, and SPI has already secured more than 200 hours of content for it.

“Our new Ultra HD library will initially offer very diverse content such as visually stunning nature documentaries, breath taking videos of San Francisco skyline and eye-popping CG animations,” said Berk Uziyel, executive director of FilmBox International, an SPI subsidiary.