British channel packager and distributor Zone Vision has acquired a wide ranging deal to deliver films and TV movies from Universal Television & Networks to Turkey. The films will be shown on basic cable channel, Showtime Turkey, which was launched in February 2000 as a direct-to-home channel carried on the DigiTurk satellite platform.

Library titles covered by the deal include Twister, Born On The Fourth Of July, Apollo 13 and Casino as well as a selection of made-for-TV movies. Belinda Menendez, co-president of Universal Studios Television Distribution, said: Zone Vision continue to build on the rapidly emerging pay-TV market in Turkey."

In Israel, Universal struck a similar deal with Jasmine TV. Jasmine, which operates cable movie channels Cinema 1,2 and 3, bought pay-cable rights to a mixed slate of features, TV movies and direct-to-video pictures. Titles include Shakespeare In Love, The Mummy, Liar, Liar and Scent Of A Woman as well as the non-theatrical picture Beethoven's 3rd.