Fox, Mediaset ink Spanish pact

MADRID -- Fox and TV conglom Mediaset Espana have sealed a multi-year volume deal that will allow Mediaset's Spanish channel bouquet to air Fox-distributed feature films and new TV skeins. Pact includes TV series "Terra Nova," produced by Steven Spielberg, FX drama "American Horror History," "Bones" spinoff "The Finder" and midseason skein "Touch," with Kiefer Sutherland. In terms of feature films, the agreement covers Fox movies released theatrically in Spain over the period 2010-2012, such as "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," "Gulliver's Travels" and "The A-Team." The pact also gives Mediaset Espana broadcasting rights to up to 50 library film titles. Deal marks Mediaset Espana's biggest TV programming alliance with a U.S. studio since 2003, when a Disney output deal expired. Mediaset Espana had been reluctant to pact with the U.S. studios in the past, but in recent years it has clinched programming deals with NBCUniversal, CBS Paramount and Disney. The main reason for this is Mediaset Espana's need to provide fiction content to its large number of digital terrestrial TV services, which encompasses core channel Telecinco, Cuatro, Factoria de Ficcion, Divinity, La Siete and Boing. Mediaset Espana's channel bouquet led the Spanish TV market in September with a combined 26% aud share. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com