AXN India, CBS Studios announce content partnership deal

The new deal gives AXN access to all content distributed by CBS, including the exclusive rights to air existing television serials, as well as the rights to all new shows produced by CBS Television Studios.

Multi Screen Media's English Entertainment Channel in India, AXN, has announced a multi-year content deal with CBS Studios International.

The deal is aimed at strengthening the bouquet of AXN programming. It gives AXN access to all content distributed by CBS, including the exclusive rights to air existing television serials like Hawaii Five-0 and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, as well as the rights to all new shows produced by CBS Television Studios.

According to NP Singh, CEO, MSM, the acquisition marks a memorable milestone in the journey of MSM. "It has been our endeavour to create a differentiation for our viewers through product offering and innovations, both through our marketing and content novelties. The CBS deal allows us to more effectively build and deliver a rich library of content to our viewers, thereby strengthening the commitment of MSM to the Indian entertainment market."

Saurabh Yagnik, English cluster head, MSM, adds, "This deal has only strengthened our long-standing relationship with CBS. Increasing our brand presence and reach in key markets is a cornerstone of our growth strategy. Now, with the new deal, we are bringing some of the most cutting edge shows from the US."

"We are thrilled to expand our relationship with AXN India and deliver more of our world-class programming to audiences across India and the subcontinent. We have an exciting slate of new and returning content that will be right at home on the channel," says Barry Chamberlain, president of sales, CBS Studios International."

This year's line-up has shows including CSI: Cyber, a spin-off of the hit CSI franchise focused on the Cyber Crime Division of the FBI, and NCIS: New Orleans, a spin-off of the popular NCIS procedural set in the Big Easy. Other new CBS dramas include Madam Secretary, which stars Téa Leoni as the newly appointed Secretary of State, and Scorpion, about an eccentric genius and his team of brilliant misfits who help protect against the hi-tech threats of the modern age.