Landmark Distribution Deal Secures Long-Term Carriage in Czech Republic and Slovakia for AMCNI’s Popular Portfolio, Including Wider Distribution for Sport1, the Leading Sports Channel in the Region
Budapest – 28 June 2021 – AMC Networks International (AMCNI) and M7 Group, owned by Canal+ and one of Europe’s largest pay-TV providers, today announce a multi-year, multi-territory extension to their long-standing 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 video-on-demand content.
The landmark deal secures ongoing long-term distribution in the Czech Republic and Slovakia for the entire AMCNI portfolio of 10 pay-TV brands, including Sport1, Sport2, AMC, Film+, Minimax, JimJam, Spektrum, Spektrum Home, TV Paprika and CBS Reality. The partnership also 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. 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 which makes 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 Champion’s League and SerieA football rights on its Sports channels. AMCNI also broadens its video-on-demand offering for its channels, while AMC will be placed in the basic package making the popular 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.
Stefano Colombo, VP Content at M7 commented: “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, said, “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.”
About M7Group
M7 Group S.A., a CANAL+ Group company, is one of Europe’s largest operators of satellite and IP-based TV platforms and is based in Luxembourg. M7 Group uses different brands in different countries: Skylink and Freesat in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Canal Digitaal in the Netherlands, TV Vlaanderen and TeleSat in Belgium, HD Austria in Austria, Direct One in Hungary and Focus Sat in Romania. All brands offer tailor made packages for clients adapted to the local culture and language in these countries. Today, M7 Group provides more than 3 million subscribers with hundreds of satellite and IP-based radio and television services in digital and HD quality. Since 2011, M7 Group also provides broadband and telephony services to its customers in the Netherlands and Belgium. M7 Platform Services provides broadcasters with end-to-end distribution solutions for DTH, cable and IPTV reception. For further information: www.m7group.eu.
About AMC Networks International
AMC Networks International (AMCNI), the global division of AMC Networks, delivers entertaining and acclaimed programming that reaches subscribers in more than 130 countries and territories. AMCNI consists of global brands as well as popular, locally recognized channels in various programming genres. For more information, visit: www.amcnetworksinternational.com
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