ProSiebenSat.1 and Discovery join forces to build the leading local streaming platform in GermanyLaunch of the new platform integrating 7TV, maxdome and Eurosport Player and a wide range of other content in first half 2019
Aim for 10 million users in first two years
Inviting RTL, ARD and ZDF to join forces
Both partners commit to set up a team of more than 200 digital experts for new platform
Munich, 25 June 2018. ProSiebenSat.1 and Discovery today announce plans to build the leading local streaming platform in Germany by integrating 7TV, maxdome and Eurosport player in one place. This will be a pioneering OTT platform in Germany offering the full entertainment package of live streams, an extensive media library with great local content and the best from Hollywood as well as high-quality sports content. The future product will deliver an un-matched digital entertainment experience for consumers' needs. It will feature a wide free offering, an attractively priced advertising free tier and premium pay tiers with access to exclusive sports and movies. ProSiebenSat.1 and Discovery aim to create bespoke content and rapidly scale and invest into the platform. Building a dedicated team of more than 200 professionals will support the successful start of the platform in first half of 2019.
Max Conze, Chief Executive Officer of the ProSiebenSat.1 Group: All of us want to watch the entertainment we love whenever, wherever and on any device - so I am really excited that ProSiebenSat.1 and Discovery are joining forces to create the number one German streaming platform - our aim is 10 million users in the first two years and we are putting very significant resources and investment with urgency into this effort. I am inviting RTL and ARD/ ZDF to join us so we can have one German champion. This is just the start of the journey, now we roll up our sleeves.
David Zaslav, President and Chief Executive Officer of Discovery, said: This is an exciting next step in our strategy of reaching more viewers on more screens as the global leader in real life entertainment and international sports. Together with ProSiebenSat.1, we are building a world class streaming service to nourish superfans in one of our most important international markets while also creating a new model for the future for viewers to enjoy their favorite content.
The joint venture team in place is led by Alexandar Vassilev, former Google and YouTube executive. Max Conze, Chief Executive Officer of ProSiebenSat.1 will personally head the board of the joint venture. Jean Briac (JB) Perrette, President and CEO of Discovery Networks International will represent Discovery on the board.
Alexandar Vassilev, CEO of 7TV: All our efforts are focused on understanding what viewers want and building the best, most user-friendly product for German audiences. We have a fast-growing team with experts from around the world and can't wait to show our platform and services in the first half 2019.
Since September 2017, ProSiebenSat.1 and Discovery Communications offer their joint content on 7TV, both as live streams and through extensive media libraries with: ProSieben, SAT.1, kabel eins, sixx, ProSieben MAXX, SAT.1 Gold, kabel eins doku plus DMAX, TLC and selected Eurosport content. WELT, N24 Doku and SPORT1 already committed their content to the platform and will go live soon.
Founded in 2006, maxdome has been a pioneering platform for video on demand services in Germany. Today it is one of the largest VoD stores in Germany one of the largest content catalog with over 50,000 titles of the best entertainment. The platform offers a wide variety of feature films, series, comedy shows, sports, music and cartoons - with exclusive titles and series such as the latest season of Grey's Anatomy, Star Trek - Into Darkness and Mission: Impossible - Rouge Nation.
The Eurosport Player is Europe's leading direct to consumer digital streaming service and offers access to all the sports on the Eurosport channels, including the Olympics, tennis grand slams and all major cycling events, along with other major sporting events. 7TV fans will also be able to access Eurosport 1 HD and also Eurosport 2 HD Xtra, the new channel on which 45 Bundesliga games are broadcast live exclusively.
The agreement is subject for approval from the respective authorities.
ProSiebenSat.1 Group
ProSiebenSat.1 is the leading German entertainment player with a strong eCommerce business. We want to offer great entertainment - whenever, wherever and on any device. Every day, 45 million TV households in Germany, Austria and Switzerland enjoy our 14 free and pay TV channels. Our online presence via web, mobile, smart TV, apps and social media generates more than 5 billion video views annually. We invest more than 1 billion euros in 120,000 hours of programming.
Successful formats like Germany's next Topmodel , The Voice of Germany , Grey's Anatomy and Young Sheldon as well as top-notch stars like Heidi Klum, Joko and Klaas or Dwayne Johnson are part of our family. Shows like Bosch and Married at First Sight are creations of our production and distribution business Red Arrow Studios. Our global video channel network, Studio71, achieves 96 billion video views per year and operates more than 1,300 web channels.
The NuCom group is a leading and rapidly growing e-commerce player with ten leading portfolio companies that offer online price comparison to gifting/ events, dating and beauty retailing with 360 million interactions a year.
We are 6,500 passionate creators that love to entertain and delight our viewers and consumers.
About Discovery
Discovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is a global leader in real life entertainment, serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world with content that inspires, informs and entertains. Discovery
