AMC Networks International (AMCNI) and Canal+’s M7 Group have signed a multi-year extension to their strategic partnership in Central and Eastern Europe.
The agreement covers the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania, and secures enhanced distribution for the entire AMCNI pay-TV channel portfolio in each country, including linear channels and enriched VOD content.
In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, aside from on-going distribution of 10 pay-TV channels – Sport1, Sport2, AMC, Film+, Minimax, JimJam, Spektrum, Spektrum Home, TV Paprika and CBS Reality – the partnership brings new elements including wider distribution of Sport1 on Skylink’s platforms with 10% penetration growth for the channel to be available in more than 80% of pay-TV households. Meanwhile, Sport1 and Sport2 will broadcast live UEFA international club competition matches in these territories for the first time through recently acquired UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference Cup matches. The agreement also moves Minimax into the most widely distributed package on Skylink’s platforms, making the children’s channel available in over 85% of pay-TV homes across both markets.
For Hungary, the strategic agreement secures continued carriage for the entire AMCNI portfolio on M7’s DirectOne which will also include the recently announced acquired UEFA Champions League and SerieA football rights on its Sports channels. AMCNI also broadens its VOD offering for its channels, while AMC will be placed in the basic package making the film and series channel available in over 90% of pay-TV homes. In Romania, the agreement secures continued distribution for the entire AMCNI pay-TV portfolio on FocusSat’s platforms.
Commenting on the development, Stefano Colombo, VP content at M7, said: “We are very pleased with the continuation and further strengthening of our long-standing partnership in the Central European markets. The new agreement provides even more of our subscribers with AMCNI’s attractive and diversified content line-up in all genres from Kids to Sports, to TV Serials and Lifestyle programming, strengthening both our linear and on-demand offerings. We look forward to a fruitful cooperation over the coming years”.
Levente Málnay, EVP/MD of AMCNI Central and Northern Europe, added: “M7 Group and AMCNI have been working together for almost 20 years to bring audiences the best in sports and entertainment, and this enhanced alliance highlights the strong demand for our award-winning content. Our new multi-territory agreement will give M7 customers across Central Europe a diverse and acclaimed selection of linear and on demand entertainment in the coming years. This will include the first-ever live broadcast of UEFA international club competitions – UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference Cup matches – on Sport1 and Sport2 in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, among many other exclusive premieres”.
