Viacom International Media Networks has announced a string of deals, covering linear, SVOD and multi platform distribution in Europe and Africa.
VIMN launched the MTV Play VOD mobile app in Germany and Austria. SVOD carriers Showmax and iflix will carry multiple VIMN brands in sub-Saharan Africa. MTV and NickJr. were launched on Orange in Spain. And MTV launched the first ever fully localised MTV Snapchat Discover channel in France.
“I am very pleased to be confirming these deals across the cluster,’ said Raffaele Annecchino, president and MD of VIMN SWEMEA,.
“Our strategies vary market by market based on the opportunities available and we remain flexible and committed to working with the best affiliates in each region. This month, we’ve closed deals for linear and non-linear distribution for multiple brands in our portfolio across a range of countries and platforms. I am proud of our success and I look forward to announcing additional agreements shortly.
On July 27th, VIMN launched their PlayPlex mobile app, MTV Play, in Germany and Austria. The new service replaces MTV’s previous app with the MTV brand of the company’s international VOD service, PlayPlex. Offering users access to a wide variety of content including MTV shows, the PlayPlex suite of mobile apps work across IOS and Android systems, and can feature live streams of Viacom’s branded TV channels, as well as a library of VOD content. There have been more than 20 million global downloads of PlayPlex apps to date and over 390M streams.
In Africa, VIMN announced the signing of SVOD contracts that include multiple brands within the media company’s portfolio and will cover sub-Saharan Africa. An existing 2015 agreement with Showmax has been expanded to include 500 hours of Nickelodeon content, in addition to 150 hours of new international and local content from other VIMN Brands.
VIMN also signed a deal with iflix, who confirmed their expansion into Africa this June. IFLIX will carry content from numerous VIMN brands like Nickelodeon (TMNT, iCarly), Comedy Central (Broad City, Comedy Central Presents… Live at Parkers), MTV (Pimp My Ride, Awkward), VH1 (the Fabulous Live Of….), MTV Base (Behind the Story…) and BET (Nellyville, Punk’d).
In Spain, VIMN brands MTV and NickJr launched on Orange in June. The carrier reaches 507,000 TV viewers in Spain who will now have access to the best in youth and music content on MTV, including scripted shows like MTV Super Shore as well festivals, concerts and live musical performances from top artists around the world. The deal also expands Orange’s offer to include VIMN’s family-friendly preschool brand NickJr.
VIMN announced their latest partnership with Snapchat in France where they launched the first fully localised MTV Discover channel outside the United States (MTV already maintains domestic and international Discover channels on Snapchat). Snapchat’s Discover feature lets accounts share stories and content from a branded editorial perspective on the popular social media platform. The French version features some international content dubbed in French, strengthened by a localised editorial offering designed specifically for French audiences and produced in France. The MTV Discover channel went live on June 30th.
