Belgian media company DPG Media and Belgian operator Telenet have established a new joint venture to develop a full streaming video offer with local and international content. The service comes in response to changing viewing behaviour and seeks to offer a local alternative in the world of streaming services.
Telenet and DPG Media expect the new company to become active in the fall. The streaming service will be available via a new paid TV app available to everyone in Flanders, and via Telenet’s existing Play offer.
Paid VoD services successful
The growth of SVOD services such as Netflix shows that consumers are willing to pay for on-demand content. In the Flemish media ecosystem, Telenet and DPG Media see potential for players who can be distinctive, and provide a strong local offering in combination with foreign films and series.
As a relatively small region, Flanders has a large and popular range of homegrown programmes, the companies noted. DPG Media makes Flemish fiction. Telenet will bring in local and international content with its purchase of De Vijver Media, which owns the channels Vier, Vijf and Zes and production house Woestijnvis.
The supply via traditional TV channels is and remains important, the companies said. However, in addition to the linear broadcast, a dynamic offer needs to be created of video platforms and adapted services such as catch-up TV and TV apps.
Telenet has 400,000 customers for its subscription services Play and Play More, but only subscribers on its own network can access this. After the successful launch of its free VTM GO platform, DPG Media has been working on developing a technical platform for its own paid streaming service.
