BIG CBS Networks Pvt. Ltd., an equal joint venture between Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd. (533143.BY) and CBS Corp. (CBS), is in talks to acquire the India satellite rights to Walt Disney Co. (DIS) films, a top executive of the Indian company said.

"Big CBS is in talks with Disney to acquire its film library to beef up weekend movies," Chief Executive Tarun Katial told Dow Jones Newswires Monday.

He said the broadcasting rights under discussion are for India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka.

Disney executives weren't immediately available for comment.

The joint venture launched its first English general entertainment television channel earlier in the day in the Indian sub-continent, Reliance Broadcast said.

"Through our distribution tie-ups, we have achieved nearly 100% target audience coverage to reach over 20 million households on the day of launch," Katial said.

The firm has entered into alliances with multi-system cable distributors like Reliance Big TV, Digicable, Den Networks Ltd. (533137.BY) and Hathway Cable & Datacom Ltd. (533162.BY). In addition, the venture has signed distribution deals with InCable, Airtel DTH, which is a unit of Bharti Airtel Ltd. (532454.BY), and 7Star.

The channel, named Big CBS Prime, will air shows such as Survivor, Late Show with David Letterman and Entertainment Tonight.

BIG CBS Networks will tap luxury brands to sell airtime advertising to.

-By Kenan Machado, Dow Jones Newswires; +91 22 6145 6107; kenan.machado@dowjones.com
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