Paris, March 18th, 2022 -CANAL+ Group and SPI INTERNATIONAL are pleased to report that the integration of SPI INTERNATIONAL within CANAL+ Group has now been completed, following the approvals of all competent authorities in all European jurisdictions concerned.
SPI INTERNATIONAL, a global media company who has significant presence in Europe with extensive experience in content distribution and worldwide broadcasting, will bring to CANAL+ Group great opportunities to strengthen Pay TV offers in all European markets and develop new ranges of services for the benefit of customers worldwide.
CANAL+ Group is pleased that SPI INTERNATIONAL will continue their worldwide expansion while developing their operations in a way that benefits the entire group.
ABOUT CANAL+ GROUP
CANAL+ Group is a leading media company and pay-TV operator. CANAL+ Group has a wide international footprint with a presence in Europe, Africa and Asia. CANAL+ Group totals 23.7 million subscribers worldwide, including 9 million in mainland France. With STUDIOCANAL, CANAL+ Group is also a European leader in the production, acquisition and distribution of feature films and TV series. It is also a leading player in free-to-air television with a pole of several channels, as well as an ads sales agency. CANAL+ Group is wholly-owned by worldwide integrated content, media and communication group, Vivendi.
ABOUT SPI INTERNATIONAL
SPI INTERNATIONAL is a global media company operating 42 TV channels, multiple digital products across six continents, and a major player in content distribution and broadcasting worldwide. The company operates multiple free-to-air and pay-TV channels in CEE, Western Europe, CIS and Ex-Yugo regions including key European markets such as Poland, Czechia, Romania, Serbia and the Netherlands. SPI Group owns a suite of legacy brands that have become household names such as FilmBox, Film1, Kino Polska, Stopklatka, Dizi along with different thematic channels and streaming services, including FilmBox+. Working with over 700 operators worldwide, SPI uses cutting-edge technology providing its subscribers with access to SPI’s linear and on-demand content. For over 25 years, SPI INTERNATIONAL has been a leading supplier of theatrical films and television programming in the international markets. SPI’s solid alliances with major license suppliers provide compelling content, with strong recognition and high demand.
SPI/FilmBox and Seychelles-based telecommunications services provider Intelvision add premium drama hub Dizi to the wide selection of SPI brands offered by the operator. The new distribution deal makes Timeless Dizi Channel available to Intelvision subscribers in the English language, available within the Intelenovela bouquet.
“We are pleased to expand our offering via our long-standing partner Intelvision to include one of our most successful brands, Dizi, which brings the best and critically-acclaimed Turkish series under one roof,” said Georgina Twiss, MD Western Europe & Africa at SPI International. “We are confident that Intelenovela subscribers will enjoy the slate of popular series on Dizi that appeal to millions of viewers worldwide with their great stories and high production value,” added Twiss.
Established in April 2019, Dizi reaches millions of households worldwide across the CEE, Western Europe, Ex-Yugo and Africa through multiple operators with its slate of globally acclaimed Turkish drama series.
Intelvision also carries the following from SPI’s portfolio: FilmBox Africa which broadcasts Hollywood blockbusters, popular hits and favorite evergreens; FilmBox Arthouse brings world cinema classics from iconic directors such as Hitchcock, Kurosawa, Fellini and many others to cinema lovers. Gametoon which is dedicated to gaming content created by true gaming and esports enthusiasts; FightBox broadcasts some of the most electrifying combat sports live events and multi-discipline mixed martial arts coverage from all over the world; Fast&FunBox offers action-packed programming dedicated to adrenaline sports; DocuBox delivers a collection of award-winning documentaries about different cultures and the wonders of our world; FashionBox provides highly entertaining content on fashion trends and all things style; and 360 TuneBox presents new music every week with today’s emerging artists.
About SPI INTERNATIONAL
SPI INTERNATIONAL is a global media company operating 42 TV channels, multiple digital products across six continents, and a major player in content distribution and broadcasting worldwide.
SPI was founded 28 years ago and has extensive experience in the TV and broadcasting industry. The company operates multiple free-to-air and pay-TV channels in CEE, Western Europe, CIS and Ex-Yugo regions including key European markets such as Poland, Czechia, Romania, Serbia, the Netherlands and Russia. SPI is one of the premier movie service providers in the countries where it operates, with FilmBox being its flagship movie service. SPI Group owns a suite of legacy brands that have become household names such as FilmBox, Film1, Kino Polska, Stopklatka, Dizi along with different thematic channels and streaming services.
SPI’s brands reach millions of households through operators, partner platforms and SPI’s own digital products globally. Working with over 700 operators worldwide, SPI uses cutting-edge technology providing its subscribers with access to SPI’s linear and on-demand content and FilmBox+ service that has over one million subscribers. The company recently launched a new digital service, Dizi, a state-of-the-art aggregator of the best Turkish series worldwide. SPI also owns and operates the brand assets of Film1 premium movie services in The Netherlands, including four linear channels and an on-demand service.
For over 25 years, SPI INTERNATIONAL has been a leading supplier of theatrical films and television programming in the international markets. SPI’s solid alliances with major license suppliers provide compelling content, with strong recognition and high demand. www.spiintl.com
For more information please contact: melodi.simson@spiintl.com
SPI/FilmBox continues its European expansion with a brand-new deal for the premium drama hub Dizi in Portugal. Portugal’s telecommunications provider NOWO, which also carries multiple other SPI brands, will now offer Timeless Dizi Channel to its subscribers at channel number 47.
“Our Dizi brand, which currently boasts a catalogue of some of the best Turkish drama series, has been making waves globally since its launch. The increasing demand for the channel in Europe reflects the popularity of Turkish series or Dizi as a genre that is capable of capturing viewers’ hearts across the world,” said Georgina Twiss, MD Western Europe and Africa at SPI International. “The addition of Dizi to our bouquet of brands offered through Nowo serves to cater to the interests of both Turkish drama and quality series enthusiasts alike,” added Twiss.
Established in April 2019, Dizi reaches millions of households worldwide across the CEE, Western Europe, Ex-Yugo and Africa through multiple operators with its slate of globally acclaimed Turkish drama series.
“Adding Dizi Channel to NOWO’s offer allows us to enrich and diversify the content available to our customers,” said Jorge Moreira da Silva, CMO at NOWO.
In addition to Dizi, NOWO already carries the following from the SPI/FilmBox portfolio in its basic and extended basic packages: The visually-groundbreaking FunBox UHD; Fast&FunBox offers action-packed programming dedicated to adrenaline sports; FashionBox provides highly entertaining content on fashion trends and all things style; DocuBox delivers a collection of award-winning documentaries about different cultures and the wonders of our world and FilmBox Arthouse which brings world cinema classics from iconic directors such as Hitchcock, Kurosawa, Fellini and many others to cinema lovers.
NOWO has also added Gametoon, dedicated to gaming content created by true gaming and esports enthusiasts, and FightBox which broadcasts some of the most electrifying combat sports live events and multi-discipline mixed martial arts coverage from all over the world to its offering last year.
About NOWO Portugal
NOWO is the telecommunications operator that offers NET, TV, Voice and Mobile services and has national coverage with a strategy focused on quality of service, attention to Customers and prices adjusted to the real needs of the Portuguese market.
Recently NOWO acquired 5G spectrum which will enable the development of NOWO’s growth strategy focused on developing its own mobile network, improving and modernizing the current fixed network and building a new FTTH (Fiber-to-the-Home) network.
NOWO is part of Group MASMOVIL since 2019. MASMOVIL is the fourth telecommunications operator in Spain and has been the operator with the higher growth in Europe for the last years.
About SPI INTERNATIONAL
SPI INTERNATIONAL is a global media company operating 42 TV channels, multiple digital products across six continents, and a major player in content distribution and broadcasting worldwide.
SPI was founded 28 years ago and has extensive experience in the TV and broadcasting industry. The company operates multiple free-to-air and pay-TV channels in CEE, Western Europe, CIS and Ex-Yugo regions including key European markets such as Poland, Czechia, Romania, Serbia, the Netherlands and Russia. SPI is one of the premier movie service providers in the countries where it operates, with FilmBox being its flagship movie service. SPI Group owns a suite of legacy brands that have become household names such as FilmBox, Film1, Kino Polska, Stopklatka, Dizi along with different thematic channels and streaming services.
SPI’s brands reach millions of households through operators, partner platforms and SPI’s own digital products globally. Working with over 700 operators worldwide, SPI uses cutting-edge technology providing its subscribers with access to SPI’s linear and on-demand content and FilmBox+ service that has over one million subscribers. The company recently launched a new digital service, Dizi, a state-of-the-art aggregator of the best Turkish series worldwide. SPI also owns and operates the brand assets of Film1 premium movie services in The Netherlands, including four linear channels and an on-demand service.
For over 25 years, SPI INTERNATIONAL has been a leading supplier of theatrical films and television programming in the international markets. SPI’s solid alliances with major license suppliers provide compelling content, with strong recognition and high demand.
For more information please contact: melodi.simson@spiintl.com
Building on the success of FilmBox in Czechia, FilmBox Stars will now also start measuring viewership data in the region, beginning March 1st 2022. In addition, FilmBox Stars will diversify its programming grid to include even more top-quality entertainment in HD
SPI/FilmBox announces that, as of March 1st, 2022 their premium movie channel FilmBox Stars will initiate viewership measurement in Czechia. Moving forward, FilmBox Stars will offer a more diversified channel programming in HD to expand its viewership, especially across the female demographic. In addition to Hollywood hits and popular blockbusters with A-list celebrities that FilmBox Stars already broadcasts, the enriched programming slate will include more romantic comedies, dramas, series, thrillers, biographical and family movies. It will also feature local Czech content.
“The strategic decision to make FilmBox Stars a measurable channel is a step forward that builds on the success of FilmBox, which has established itself as the leader in the pay movie market in Czechia for almost two years and counting,” commented Berk Uziyel, CEO at SPI International. “We are grateful for the on-going support of SPI/FilmBox audiences in Czechia and we undertake this change as a means to elevate their entertainment experience with more targeted content offerings and the goal of making FilmBox Stars the second most-watched pay movie TV channel in the market,” added Uziyel.
A weekly programming grid for FilmBox Stars will include the following on primetime: Dramas starring A-list Hollywood stars on Mondays, romantic movies on Tuesdays, gripping thrillers on Wednesdays, popular Czech films on Thursdays and comedies on Fridays. On Saturdays, viewers will be able to watch biographical or historical movies and stories that are based on real events. Sundays will feature the Hit/Premiere of The Week.
In the upcoming weeks, viewers can enjoy Channing Tatum in Magic Mike, a movie directed by Steven Soderbergh and is based on Tatum’s personal experience as an 18-year-old stripper. In Book Club, things will get steamy, as long-time friends Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen spice up their lives after reading Fifty Shades of Grey. A different kind of comedy is Bohdan Sláma’s Divoké včely, a confrontation of relations between various lovers in a small North Moravian village. FilmBox Stars will, of course, show many typical romantic comedies, such as Two Night Stand where a snowstorm forces two people who made an online connection to unwillingly extend their one-night stand as a blizzard goes through the night. High-quality drama will also be part of the channel’s movie offer, such as Marek Najbrt’s Protektor, a love story from the times of the Nazi occupation, or The Iron Lady starring Meryl Streep as an elderly Margaret Thatcher looking back on her life.
About SPI International
SPI INTERNATIONAL is a global media company operating 42 TV channels, multiple digital products across six continents, and a major player in content distribution and broadcasting worldwide.
SPI was founded 28 years ago and has extensive experience in the TV and broadcasting industry. The company operates multiple free-to-air and pay-TV channels in CEE, Western Europe, CIS and Ex-Yugo regions including key European markets such as Poland, Czechia, Romania, Serbia, the Netherlands and Russia. SPI is one of the premier movie service providers in the countries where it operates, with FilmBox being its flagship movie service. SPI Group owns a suite of legacy brands that have become household names such as FilmBox, Film1, Kino Polska, Stopklatka, Dizi along with different thematic channels and streaming services.
SPI’s brands reach millions of households through operators, partner platforms and SPI’s own digital products globally. Working with over 700 operators worldwide, SPI uses cutting-edge technology providing its subscribers with access to SPI’s linear and on-demand content and FilmBox+ service that has over one million subscribers. The company recently launched a new digital service, Dizi, a state-of-the-art aggregator of the best Turkish series worldwide. SPI also owns and operates the brand assets of Film1 premium movie services in The Netherlands, including four linear channels and an on-demand service.
For over 25 years, SPI INTERNATIONAL has been a leading supplier of theatrical films and television programming in the international markets. SPI’s solid alliances with major license suppliers provide compelling content, with strong recognition and high demand. www.spiintl.com
