In this monthly LatAm 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 different Latin American markets.
TOP NEWS
* Sony's subscription video-on-demand service Crackle has expanded in Uruguay following a deal with local pay TV operator Telespectaculo, Rapid TV News reported Oct. 16. Crackle will be available as an add-on service to Telespectaculo subscribers, which can be accessed via iOS and Android devices, Apple Inc.'s Apple TV, Sony Smart TVs and Google Inc. Chromecast.
* Brazilian telco Algar Telecom rolled out Vid+, a new SVOD platform featuring 2,500 films, TV series and documentaries, NexTV News Latin America reported Sept. 26. Vubiquity is providing contents to the platform, with monthly subscription starting at 14.90 Brazilian reals.
OTHER STORIES
* Colombian production company Dynamo has partnered with popular YouTube channel Enchufe TV for its upcoming feature film "Rock 'n Cola," Variety reported oct. 17. The film, which is currently in post-production, stars Enchufe's Raul Santana and Nataly Valencia, among others. Sony Corp. unit Sony Pictures International Productions will handle distribution in the U.S. and Latin America. Alphabet Inc. unit Google owns YouTube.
* Mexico's TV Azteca struck a deal with Israel's Keshet International to co-develop and produce a 60-episode Spanish-language scripted series, Variety reported Oct. 16. TV Azteca deputy president Joshua Mintz and Keshet vice president for distribution and new business Kelly Wright will oversee the project, which will be broadcast by TV Azteca in Mexico. Meanwhile, Keshet will take care of international distribution.
* Turner Broadcasting System Inc.'s Cartoon Network Latin America tapped Chilean animators Punk Robot, Typpo and Niño Viejo for "The Legend of Zeta & Ozz," a new series of shorts, Variety reported Oct. 15. The series, about the friendship between an egotistic fox and a childish bear, will be broadcast across Cartoon Network's platforms. Time Warner Inc. owns Turner.
* HBO Latino acquired pay TV and SVOD rights to Argentinian comedy film "Mamá se fue de Viaje" (10 Days Without Mom), Variety reported Oct. 15. The deal covers U.S. and North American markets. "Mamá se fue de Viaje" is produced by Patagonik, a joint venture between Walt Disney Co. and Argentinian broadcast group Artear.
* Mexico's Megacable tapped pay TV and OTT solutions provider ThinkAnalytics to help personalize its Xview customers' linear and VOD experiences via mobile apps, online and set-top boxes. Megacable will also be using ThinkBigData, allowing it to learn more about subscriber behavior from the search and recommendations engine.
* FashionTV launched 12 new FTV+ over-the-top channels, along with its FashionFlix SVOD service, NexTV News International reported Oct. 10. The broadcaster also rolled out two localized livestreams- FTV USA and FTV Brazil.
* Grupo Televisa SAB and TV Azteca renewed exclusive broadcast rights to matches of the Mexican national soccer team for another eight years, enabling the games to remain on Mexican free-to-air TV, NexTV News Latin America reported Oct. 3.