CNN International Links With Bulgaria's News7 for Affiliate News Channel

LONDON – Turner Broadcasting System Europe Limited, parent company of CNN International, has inked a broadcast affiliate agreement with soon-to-launch Bulgarian channel News7.

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The deal was announced Thursday by TBS International president Gerhard Zeiler, and Nikolai Barekov, CEO for BBT.

The deal provides News7 with exclusive access to a range of video and newsgathering resources from CNN International including live breaking news feeds, news stories and programming.

As part of the CNN affiliate group, News7 will give CNN access to its own reporting from Bulgaria gathered by teams based in the country's capital Sofia and in regional hubs.

CNN will also provide "consultancy, training and operational support for the channel’s launch phase and beyond, marking an additional and exclusive dimension to the affiliate agreement."

The deal is a first for CNN in Eastern Europe.

"This agreement signals not only our ongoing commitment to developing the CNN affiliate business, but also our interest in supporting local news operations with consultancy and training to help them deliver a quality product for their audiences,” said Zeiler.

"While the channel will have entire editorial responsibility for its output, operationally we welcome the opportunity to work with this exciting new entrant into the Bulgarian news market."

Barekov said: "Working with Turner to access CNN expertise as well as content will help News7 realize its goal to develop Bulgaria’s first fully HD channel, with the ability to provide 24-hour news coverage, which will become the leader in providing exclusive first-class news content."