In this monthly Latin American video spotlight feature, S&P Global Market Intelligence provides a roundup of news related to over-the-top, video-on-demand and other video initiatives in Latin American markets.
TOP NEWS
* América Móvil SAB de CV unit Net and Claro have partnered with Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. to conduct live demonstrations of Ultra HD 8K video streaming over experimental 5G network, NexTV News Latin America reported Oct. 17. TV Globo has provided contents for the trial, following preparations started in July.
* Atresmedia will integrate 500 hours of Grupo Globo's content to its Atreseries entertainment channel following a deal, Telecompaper reported Oct. 8. The partnership kicks off this October, which includes Globo's telenovelas, series and miniseries. First to be on the channel are "Sparkling Girls," "Merciless" and "Empire."
OTHER NEWS
* Mediapro and VICE Media LLC's Vice Studios struck a deal to co-develop and co-produce original scripted TV series, NexTV News Latin America reported Oct. 17. The multiyear deal kicks off with "Border Republic," a series set on the U.S.-Mexico border.
* Mexico's StarTV is partnering with OTT services such as Sony Corp.'s Crackle and Time Warner Inc.'s HBO Go to boost its content offering in 2019, NexTV News Latin America reported Oct. 16. StarTV, which started in 2016, has close to 200,000 pay TV subscribers and intends to grow its subscriber base to 400,000 in 2019. The company is focusing on its double-play offering, which will include satellite TV package for every subscription to a satellite internet package.
* Mexican operator Ultravision has tapped France-based Broadpeak for its multiscreen TV service, which will be launched at the end of the year, NexTV News America reported Oct. 10. Broadpeak will deploy its BkM100 video delivery manager, BkS400 HTTP video cache servers and BkS350 Origin Packager to monitor live and on-demand content, as well as cache popular content from usage patterns.
* Claro Video has added Crackle to its entertainment package in Colombia, NexTV News Latin America reported Oct. 9. Subscription to Crackle costs 10 Colombian pesos per month.
* Roku Inc. has added Amazon.com Inc.'s Amazon Prime Video to its streaming platform for Latin American users, NexTV News Latin America reported Oct. 5. Prime Video, which offers titles such as "Jack Ryan," "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" and new seasons of "The Grand Tour," "Goliath" and "The Man in the High Castle," will be available in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Peru.
* Grupo Record's streaming platform PlayPlus signed an agreement with Walt Disney Co. to include Disney Channel (US), Disney Junior (US) and Disney XD (US) to its offering, NexTV News Latin America reported Oct. 2.
* Telefónica SA's Movistar Chile has partnered with Netflix Inc., allowing the former's customers the option to subscribe and pay for their Netflix consumption from their Movistar bill, NexTV News Latin America reported Oct. 1.