Viewpoints: acquisitions strategies

Adalat Aliev
President
Lider Media Holding (Lider TV)
Azerbaijan

What are your acquisition strategies?

At the moment, LIDER TV is a well-known, popular TV channel that broadcasts all aspects of social and political life, cultural and entertainment events, and sports competitions. Being efficient and objective, its activity is aimed at creating a channel of general interest to the public. This is why we are oriented at a content that meets the interests of the wide audience and provides our viewers with news programs, analytical talk shows, educational and geographical programs, sports and entertainment shows. Our long term cooperation with GLOBO TV in the sphere of television soap opera purchasing, includes "O Clone" which is undoubtedly a hit and a bestseller, the production of the Azerbaijan version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and The Weakest Link. We also broadcast the Barclay English Premier League matches, and transmit all sports events held within the framework of Olympic Games, World and European Championships. In addition to this, we produce our own documentaries and scientific movies, which serve as a great example of all above, mentioned.

What programs are you looking for?

We strictly follow the high level of standards acceptable for all European and international broadcasting companies. We never allow broadcasting of pirate and non-licensee programs.

It is natural that in our business we consider the main goal to be the broadcasting of current qualitative content at prime time. Certainly, we will pay particular attention to the selection of new soap operas and movies, quiz and entertainment programs and other awards.

What foreign programs did you buy this year?

One of the most significant issues is the continuation of our cooperation with Warner Bros. I mean on movies and soap operas; we have purchased the rights to broadcast World Cup Football 2010 in Azerbaijan,  interactive sports and the extreme entertainment program "Ford Bayard" and so on.

What national programs did you buy this year?

We cooperate with all production groups in Azerbaijan, which offer qualitative programs and television shows that meet proper modern requirements. The following high rating entertainment shows; " Mashine ", " Teletime " and situational comedy " Neighbors " may serve as examples of such a successful cooperation.

What are your acquisition plans?

However, if I discuss only theory then our plans include the following: to work on programming of TV broadcasting and the forecast of our future activity, studying of our audience to define the level of programs acceptability, search for new ways of broadcasting within the frameworks of our programming policy, further improvement of informational and analytical broadcasting.

As you know, the next year is full of significant events. First of all, 2008 will be remarkable in our history as a year of the Presidential elections in Azerbaijan. This means that audience interest towards informational and analytical programs will increase very much. More over this year is also full of sports competitions and events: including the Olympic Games and European Championship Football. One of the main priorities of our work is to provide our viewers with qualitative and operative information about these and other events.