Advanced Television

VOD

Ex-Freesat CEO: FTA rebrand needed

Seasoned broadcast executive Emma Scott, former CEO of UK free-to-air digital satellite platform Freesat and previously responsible for the launch of DTT service Freeview, has suggested that there is an opportunity for a rebrand of such services in the era of multiple streaming services. The UK has connected platforms Freeview Play and YouView in addition […]

November 11, 2020By Colin Mann

France: Molotov launches Mango AVoD

French OTT live and catch-up TV platform Molotov has launched new AVoD service Mango, France’s first. The free advertising-funded offering includes films, documentaries and kids shows, and will join Molotov’s platform of linear channels and catch-up services. Mango has a catalogueof around 1,000 TV and cinema titles from various international rights owners such as Kabillion, […]

November 11, 2020From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris

LGBTQ+ streaming service launches in UK

Froot, a new streaming platform, focused on bringing compelling content for and by the queer community, has launched in the UK and Ireland. The new on-demand subscription service costs £2.99 a month or £29.99 a year (€3.49 a month or €34.99 a year in Ireland), and offers LGBTQ+ and allied audiences a mixture of inclusive, […]

November 11, 2020

Canal+ and Kudelski shut down KBoxServ

French audiovisual media group Canal+ Group and digital security specialist the Kudelski Group have confirmed the shutdown of a piracy organisation based in Canton of Vaud (Lake Geneva region), that delivered French-speaking on-demand content to thousands of customers. It is the first piracy shutdown of its kind in Switzerland. The operation is the result of […]

November 11, 2020By Colin Mann

Godmothered to premiere on Disney+

Disney+ has revealed that Godmothered, an all-new Christmas comedy starring Isla Fisher and Jillian Bell, will debut exclusively on the streaming service on December 4th. The comedy movie tells the story of Eleanor, a young, inexperienced fairy godmother-in-training (Bell) who upon hearing that her chosen profession is facing extinction, decides to show the world that […]

November 11, 2020By Nik Roseveare

HBO Max launches 20 Days of Kindness campaign

HBO Max, the US streaming service, has kicked off a 20 Days of Kindness campaign in tandem with their new film Superintelligence from New Line Cinema. Star Melissa McCarthy and director Ben Falcone announced the campaign during their appearance on the Today Show while launching the first trailer for the movie. With a ’20 for […]

November 11, 2020By Nik Roseveare

Virgin TV 360 for connected entertainment era

UK multiplay operator Virgin Media has launched a new TV platform, Virgin TV 360, which it says offers a 360, seamless connected entertainment experience. The advanced TV line-up includes a new Mini box, new TV remote with voice control and smart new features which offer a fully-integrated, voice-activated and personalised service. According to Virgin, the […]

November 10, 2020By Colin Mann

Freeview extends Vestel deal

Freeview has renewed its contract with Vestel, the biggest manufacturer of TV sets in Europe, for a further five years. The deal means that the Freeview Play service will have prominence on all new Vestel manufactured TV sets. As well as being Europe’s largest set manufacturer, Vestel is a market leader in the UK, producing […]

November 10, 2020

StarzPlay joining Viaplay

Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group), the Nordic streaming company, and streaming platform Starz have announced a long-term agreement that makes NENT Group’s Viaplay streaming service the exclusive Nordic launch partner for Starz’s international premium streaming service StarzPlay. Beginning in December, a wide selection of StarzPlay series will be available to Viaplay viewers across the Nordic […]

November 10, 2020

Spain: ‘Netflix tax’ set at 5%

Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and HBO, among others, will pay a 5 per cent revenue tariff in Spain to finance European TV series and movies. The Spanish Administration is amending its TV laws with a new Ley General de Comunicación Audiovisual that will oblige global streamers to finance European productions at the same level as […]

November 9, 2020From David Del Valle in Madrid