Sony Pictures and 20th Century Fox are forming a commercial alliance designed to boost the distribution of DVD and Blu-ray discs in Brazil. A new company will then emerge, to be named Fox-Sony Pictures Home Entertainment do Brasil (FSPHEB).

The joint venture will be in charge of handling all marketing, sales and distribution operations for the combined Brazilian DVD and Blu-ray output from the two studios, according to Variety. Jefferson Pugsley, ex-VP and MD of Paramount Home Entertainment Brazil, will head the venture.

The rationale for the partnership is based on the sheer territorial size of the South American nation, which poses significant logistics challenges for companies looking to establish a national goods distribution network.

The country's booming economy continues to grow a middle class keener to purchase and own content, than just rent it, analysts observe.

The fact that Brazil will be hosting two of the next three global sporting events – the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics – can only accelerate the already sharp demand for LCD, plasma and LED TVs. This, in turn, should increase demand for high-quality video content.

The Adventures of Tin Tin will be one of the first titles distributed by the new Fox/Sony Pictures Brazilian joint venture.

Story filed 26.10.11