The Austrian Federal Competition Authority has approved the tie-up with Austrian A1 and A1now TV.
Austrian A1 and A1now TV are entering into an international partnership with CANAL+, part of the French group Vivendi. The deal will come into play at the start of Austria 2022.
The European CANAL+ group is considered one of the world’s largest TV platforms with more than 22 million subscribers, of which more than 14 million are in Europe. For Austria’s TV consumers, this means a huge additional choice of content.
Changing consumption
The A1 Austria Group said media consumption is changing, particularly among younger viewers, with linear TV (that is scheduled programmes) being pushed into the background as viewers concentrate on streaming video on demand and mobile.
A1 has been producing TV magazines and video content under the brnad A1now since 2018, designed to suit this change in media consumption.
In 2019, the content know-how of Austria’s largest communications company was bundled in A1now TV and avaialble to all A1 TV customers via their A1 TV Box and the A1 Xplore TV Box and App as well as on the web.
The accent was on strong Austrian content, although the A1 eSports League with new viewers.
Next step
Matthias Lorenz, A1 Senior Director, Transformation, Market & Corporate Functions: “After the successful development of A1 nowTV, it was time for the next step.
“With Canal+, we have an international partner who brings a lot of content know-how. It’s a partnership to develop a strong local content offering together.”
CANAL+ Luxembourg Manager and Director of HD Austria, Martijn van Hout, said, “We are pleased to enter into a partnership with A1 to stir up the Austrian TV market with an offer that combines exclusive European and International content and the latest on demand TV technology.
“In France, we have almost nine million customers, 70% of whom are already using on demand services.”.