SPI International’s Film1 Inks a Deal with The Searchers Adding Great Titles to Its Lineup

SPI’s premium pay TV and on-demand service Film1 has recently concluded a major licensing deal with one of the leading content distribution companies, The Searchers, acquiring the broadcasting rights of more than forty well-known titles. The deal promises to bring a wide selection of recent titles such as The Personal History of David Copperfield, X, Copshop, Queenpins, and Spencer to film buffs in the Netherlands, over the next two years.

Berk Uziyel, CEO of Film1’s parent company, SPI International, says: “With such a substantial licensing deal we, once again, demonstrate our commitment to a qualitative and diversified movie offering and that we want to serve our viewers and platform partners in the best way possible. The license package we’ve acquired contains many popular top titles which perfectly meet the needs of our Dutch audience.”

The highlights from the new deal include the film adaptation of Charles Dickens’s masterpiece The Personal History of David Copperfield, thrillers Copshop and X starring Gerard Butler and Jenna Ortega respectively, the comedy Queenpins with Kristen Bell, and the Academy Award-nominated Spencer about the life of Princess Diana.

Olivier Van den Broeck, The Searchers’s founder and managing partner, expressed his enthusiasm for the deal stating; “We are delighted to be in business with SPI and to be a part of Film1’s impressive film offering in the Netherlands. We look forward to the success of our Pay-1 and/or Pay-2 on their channels.”

Film1 is the only provider of a Video on Demand service in combination with four linear 24/7 film channels: Film1 Premiere, Film1 Action, Film1 Drama and Film1 Family. The movies can be viewed via TV, tablet, or smartphone and consist of the latest international titles and major Dutch productions. Highlights from last year included The War with Grandpa, Riders of Justice, The Card Counter, Sometimes Always Never, Eiffel and The Duke.

About The Searchers

The Searchers is a leading Benelux independent distribution company, with offices in Belgium and the Netherlands. Since its launch in 2015, the company has built up an extensive catalog of close to 300 prestige titles and independent blockbusters. The company enjoyed commercial successes with both mainstream releases, such as Hustlers, Cold Pursuit, Greenland and Operation Fortune, as well as bringing specialty and cross-over titles to a large Benelux audience, including Everything Everywhere All At Once, Spencer, Wind River, Hell or High Water and most recently Living. The Searchers holds exclusive partnerships with companies such as FilmNation Entertainment (Promising Young Woman), STX Entertainment (Bad Moms franchise), and Basil Iwanyk’s Asbury Park.  Recently, the Searchers launched its own production pole. Co-productions are currently in the works on Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah’s long-awaited sequel Gangstas (in association with A Team Productions) and Jim Taihuttu’s Hardcore Never Dies (in association with New Amsterdam). The Searchers has been actively acquiring book rights and podcasts in its steps towards more productions. www.thesearchers.be

About SPI INTERNATIONAL

SPI INTERNATIONAL (a CANAL+ company) is a global media company operating 62 TV channels, multiple digital products across six continents, and is a major player in content distribution and broadcasting worldwide. SPI operates multiple free-to-air and pay-TV channels in CEE, Western Europe, Asia, and Adria 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. www.spiintl.com