Sony has sold its portfolio of UK channels to US investment firm Narrative Capital, it has been announced.
The stations include Sony Channel, Sony Movies, Sony Movies Action, Sony Movies Classic, Pop, Pop Max and Tiny Pop, as well as various timeshift channels, which have a combined audience share of 1.61% in the UK thanks in large part due to their distribution on Freeview.
As a result of the sale, effective from May 25 the Sony-branded channels will adopt the "Great!" moniker and be known as Great! TV, Great! Movies, Great! Movies Action and Great! Movies Classic.
The programming lineup, which includes shows such as Murder, She Wrote and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, is not expected to change in the short term.
"Sony has done a wonderful job of cultivating these channels and they've been a wonderful partner in this transition," Narrative chief exec Daniel Levin told Variety. "The programming will be uninterrupted.
"We're particularly excited to welcome a brand like Pop into the Narrative family, which is without question a premier destination network for children across the UK, and to give an incredible new look and feel to the movies and entertainment channels."
Over time Narrative hopes to increase the quality of content available on the channels and is thought to be in the market for "premium" movie acquisitions.
Neil Wilkes
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