AMC Networks International Southern Europe (AMCNISE) is launching a new channel in Spain that will showcase content from across its portfolio of subscription TV channels in the country. Called SELEKT, the channel is available free to Pay TV subscribers of Vodafone TV and Orange TV.
Vodafone TV and Orange TV subscribers in Spain already have the option to take the 11 thematic channels from which the SELEKT content is drawn, namely: AMC, Canal Hollywood, SundanceTV, DARK, Somos, XTRM, Odisea, Canal Cocina, Canal Decasa, Canal Panda and Sol Música. SELEKT is available to them free even if they do not take all these channels in their own TV package (not all the AMC channels are available through all packages).
By combining multiple thematic channels, AMC is trying to create a general interest channel designed to cater to all audiences. There are several motives: show a wider variety of AMC content to consumers who may currently be missing out; make some of the best AMC content easier to find in once place; help Pay TV partners add choice and value to their own offer thanks to a new, free viewing option; generate some additional advertising revenue (like all the AMC channels on the two Pay TV platforms, SELEKT will carry advertising).
The 11 thematic channels are only available via Pay TV providers in Spain and are not made available direct-to-consumer, although AMC International Southern Europe does have a D2C VOD service in the country called Microcanales, which is considered a ‘sampler service’ that allows anybody to watch a small monthly selection of content from AMC Networks channels free of charge. AMC also offers Planet Horror, the horror-specialised D2C VOD service, in this market.
SELEKT will offer premieres, original productions, exclusive programming and simulcasts. It covers films, series, documentaries, lifestyle, children’s content and music. The schedulers have created distinct blocks of programming. Thus, on a weekday, there is children’s content in the early morning, ten hours of lifestyle programming (cooking, decoration, beauty and health) in the morning and afternoon, and then three hours of documentaries after lunch. There are five hours of movies and series in prime time and four hours of music in the overnight slot.
“SELEKT is the ideal complement to our TV portfolio at a time of high viewing figures and a growing number of offerings,” says Ignacio García-Legaz, Director of Vodafone TV. “This channel is an opportunity to bolster Pay TV in Spain over free-to-air options, while at the same time delivering content to Vodafone users that might not be part of their subscription package.”
José Antonio Guzmán, Head of Strategy and Negotiation at Orange TV, welcomed “this general-interest channel on Orange TV, offering the highest quality premium Pay TV content in one place.” Manuel Balsera, Managing Director of AMC Networks International Southern Europe, adds: “In today’s dynamic media landscape, where viewers spend more time choosing what to watch, we are launching this new general-interest channel so that they can easily discover and enjoy the best of Pay television.”
