In this monthly Southern Europe Video Spotlight feature, S&P Global Market Intelligence provides a roundup of news related to over-the-top, video-on-demand and other online video initiatives in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece and Turkey.
TOP NEWS
* Telefónica SA will roll out a 4K-quality stream for satellite users who cannot access its fiber-optic network beginning in 2019, Telecompaper reported Aug. 28, citing SatCesc.com.
* U.S. over-the-top platform fuboTV is now available in Spain, Telecompaper reported Aug. 24. The streaming service is initially offering 12 live channels and Telefónica's Movistar Series free under a seven-day trial, after which the package will cost €3.99 per month.
OTHER NEWS
* Spanish broadcaster Mediapro and its over-the-top service beIN Connect have both entered into an agreement with sports rights organization IMG to air Serie A matches, Advanced Television reported Aug. 31. Mediapro will broadcast the matches through its digital terrestrial TV channel Gol, while beIN Connect will air two live matches per week.
* Greece's OTE Group, doing business as Cosmote SA, is using TV software provider Zenterio AB's operating system in the EUROBOX device for the COSMOTE TV service. The operating system supports COSMOTE TV's Smart Remote application, which enables subscribers to use their iOS and Android devices in controlling the set-top boxes.
* Pay TV platform Movistar, owned by telecom giant Telefónica, is in talks with Amazon.com Inc. to include Amazon Prime Video in its TV offer in Spain, Advanced Television reported Aug. 28. A deal, which could be in place by the end of 2018, would reportedly be similar to an earlier partnership struck by Movistar with streaming giant Netflix Inc.
* Mediapro has acquired the rights to air La Liga matches in bars and clubs, Digital TV Europe reported Aug. 20, citing El Pais. The Spanish broadcaster has bought the distribution rights for about €120 million from Vodafone Group PLC's Vodafone España SAU and Orange SA's Orange España.
* Eleven Sports Network Ltd. has acquired rights to air live matches of the National Football League, beginning Sept. 7, Telecompaper reported Aug. 17, citing Jornal de Negocios. The deal also includes Super Bowl broadcasting rights.
* Spanish broadcaster Atresmedia has sealed a deal to make its three international channels available on AT&T Inc.'s DIRECTV Now, Advanced Television reported Aug. 15. The channels are Antena 3 Internacional, Atreseries and Hola TV.
* Starz' subscription video-on-demand platform STARZPLAY has secured deals to bring its branded channels in France, Italy and Spain, Digital TV Europe reported Aug. 10. The Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. unit has previously launched in the U.K. and Germany through Amazon.com Inc.'s Amazon Channels.
* Movistar+ has introduced a sports-focused TV channel called #Vamos, Digital TV Europe reported Aug. 6. The new sports channel will air sports matches such as Wimbledon, the NBA and Spanish Liga Endesa basketball, as well as the English Premier League.
* Maltese operators Melita PLC and GO PLC have launched their joint sports offering called Total Sports Network, Digital TV Europe reported Aug. 6. The new service offers eight channels, which will be available on both the networks of Melita and Go.