Release of 21.09.2021
Approval granted by the Austrian Federal Competition Authority
Due to the increasing interest in video content and the resulting potential synergies, Austrian A1 and A1now TV decided to enter into an international partnership with CANAL+ and recently sealed it. CANAL+ from the French group Vivendi enters the Austrian television market together with A1 (A1now TV) as a national cooperation partner. The cooperation will start at the beginning of 2022.
Media consumption behaviour, especially among younger viewers and moving image consumers, is changing at a rapid pace. Linear TV consumption, i.e. watching a programme at a time scheduled by the broadcaster, is moving more and more into the background. Video on demand and mobile use are the winners for viewers' attention.
Since 2018, A1 has been producing TV magazines and video content under the brnad A1now, which aims to take into account the change in media consumption behaviour. In 2019, the content know-how of Austria's largest communications company was bundled in A1now TV GmbH: From the beginning, A1now was available to all A1 TV customers "classically" via the A1 TV Box, but also via the A1 Xplore TV Box and App as well as on the web. While providing a strong focus on Austrian content, new viewers were also inspired by the A1 eSports League.
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."
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 high-quality content that they cannot otherwise
“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 percent of whom are already using on demand services.”, emphasizes CANAL+ Luxembourg Manager and Director of HD Austria, Martijn van Hout. "CANAL+ group has strong know-how in building content and offers dedicated to its different markets. We are ready to build this ambition for Austria".