In this monthly feature,S&P Global Market Intelligence provides a roundup of news related toover-the-top, video-on-demand and other online video initiatives in differentEastern European markets.
TOP NEWS
*Telewizja Polska SAextended its existingcooperation agreement with the British Broadcasting Corp.'s BBC Worldwide Ltd., Broadband TV News reported June 23.The deal will enable the two companies to exchange content, as well asco-produce TV series and documentary films focusing on Polish issues. TVP alsoexpressed an interest to adapt several shows from BBC Worldwide's catalog andsecure the latter's support in training staff on program production.
Content and carriage deals
*Smart TV solutions provider Foxxum GmbH struck a partnership with Russian onlinestreaming service ivi.ru, accordingto a July 19 news release. Under the deal, Foxxum added the ivi.ru app to itsSmart TV solution, a move that is expected to help both companies expand theirSmart TV business in all Russian-speaking countries.
*China Broadcasting Media signed a content-sharing deal with Hungary's CineworksStudio at the National Association of Television Program Executives inBudapest, World Screen reportedJune 29. The partnership includes working on the dubbing of Chinese films andTV shows, developing CBM's business in Hungary and Eastern Europe, and solidifyingfilm and TV content sharing between the two countries.
Service launches
*RTL Group haslaunched CroatiaWorld, a new channel aimed at Croatians living abroad. Croatia World willfeature news and entertainment content, such as shows and series from RTLCroatia, the company announced July 12. Croatia World will be initiallyavailable via Euro World Network in North America, Canada, Australia and NewZealand; A1 Telekom Austria, owned by América Móvil SAB de CV's , in Austria; OTTplatform Flip TV in Australia; the SBB basic cable digital package in Serbia;and the SBB NetTV Plus worldwide OTT platform.
*Latvia's LattelecomGroup launched Shortcut, a new multiscreen OTT platform, Digital TVEurope reportedJuly 8. Shortcut will include series, films, live TV channels and live events,with international content available with Russian and Latvian subtitles.
*MegaFon added eightsports channels to its over-the-top service MegaFon TV, Telecompaper reportedJuly 5. Four of the channels are included in the All Football HD package, onein the Base offer and three under the Sport HD package.
*Russian online cinema Megogo rolled out a new 3D HD channel for Smart TV usersin Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Telecompaper reportedJuly 4. Audiences will be able to watch all content from the channel in 3Dquality.
More news
*Vodafone Group Plcunit Vodafone Româniais trialing a 4G TV app that allows users to watch almost 20 local andinternational TV channels, Broadband TV News reportedJuly 15, citing ZF. The service alsooffers access to on-demand services and aggregates content from 's HBO and musicstreaming platform Zonga.
*Netflix Inc. willbegin charging its Polish subscribers under the local currency, Broadband TVNews reportedJuly 14, citing Wirtualne Media. As such, the monthly subscription fees forNetflix's basic, standard and premium packages will be 34 Polish zlotys, 43zlotys and 52 zlotys, respectively.
*Multimedia Polska SAis trialing Multimedia Go, a new TV Everywhere service that combines up to 117channels and VOD content, Telecompaper reportedJuly 12. Planned for rollout to all subscribers by the end of 2016, the servicealso features catch-up and recording functions.
*Poland's P4, operating under the Play brand, is consumer testing its IPTV service PlayTV, available to the operator's postpaid subscribers, Telecompaper reportedJune 28. Play TV features cloud recording and time shifting, with channels thatcan be viewed on smartphones, tablets or laptops.
*ITV Plc-ownedTwofour Group isplanning to create a production hub in Slovenia, catering to remakes withineastern Europe, TBI Vision reportedJune 27. The expansion plan follows a deal with 's Planet TV, for localdistribution rights to ski-jumping format "The Jump."
*TVN SA is planning toproduce more exclusive content for its on-demand platform Player.pl, BroadbandTV News reportedJune 23, citing Wirtualne Media. Christian Anting, managing director of digitalproducts and e-commerce, said that TVN has no plans to share its content withother platforms. Anting added that Player.pl will be funded by both advertisingand subscriber fees on a 50:50 ratio. Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. owns TVN.