Tag Archives: SPI/FilmBox

SPI, Canal+ take Gametoon to Ethiopia

International media company SPI/FilmBox and its parent Canal+ Group have partnered to launch SPI’s gaming and e-sports channel Gametoon in Ethiopia.

Georgina Twiss

The move comes shortly after SPI launched FilmBox movie channels FilmBox Africa, FilmBox Action and FilmBox Family.

Gametoon, created by gaming and e-sports enthusiasts, features highlights of popular games, entertainment content from gaming YouTubers, video game tournaments with million-dollar prize pools and more.

Georgina Twiss, MD for western Europe and Africa at SPI International, said: “We are delighted to build on our existing carriage of FightBox with Gametoon and the full portfolio of FilmBox brands including the launch in the market of FilmBox Action and FilmBox Family.

“Following their popularity in other countries and following local demand, we wanted to offer the same rich bouquet in Africa. The SPI/FilmBox portfolio of channels, now enriched also by Gametoon and available via Canal+ offers in Ethiopia, will entertain and engage audiences of all ages and tastes.”

Alexandre Gruner, senior VP of channel acquisitions and partnerships for Canal+ International, added: “We are very pleased to pursue the partnership with our new family member, SPI, with the launch of the FilmBox movies portfolio as well as Gametoon. Those channels will appeal to our Ethiopian viewers and strengthen our offer.”

Gametoon is available on channel 71 in the Desta package.

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Canal+ takes FightBox to Ethiopia

International pay TV player SPI/FilmBox has partnered with France-based pay TV operator Canal+ to launch its sports entertainment service FightBox in Ethiopia.

Alexandre Gruner

FightBox will join the Canal+ platform to be broadcast in English and will be made available to subscribers in the basic package. It will feature combat sports, live events and multi-discipline mixed martial arts (MMA) coverage, including Fight Exclusive Night, Cage Fury Fighting Championship, King of Kings Hero’s World Series, Makowski Fighting Championship, Superkombat and Oktagon.

Georgina Twiss, MD for Western Europe and Africa at SPI, said: “I am very happy to be supporting Canal+ Group in this new adventure. We have a strong partnership across many territories and it’s always great to be there at the start of a new platform launch. MMA enthusiasts in Ethiopia can now tune in to some of the most exciting combat sports live events on FightBox with Canal+ and feel the rush of the ring from the comfort of their own homes.”

“Our new Canal+ Ethiopia offer combines quality and diversity through popular thematic channels and varied contents. In this context, we are very pleased to bring to the new Ethiopian subscribers FightBox, which perfectly meets their expectations. This unique fight combat sports channel will offer them great moments,” added Alexandre Gruner, senior VP of channels, acquisitions and partnerships at Canal+ International.

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SPI/FilmBox channels come to Nigeria

International media company SPI/FilmBox and Globacom-owned streaming service Glo-TV have made nine channels from the former’s portfolio available in Nigeria.

Georgina Twiss

The channels are FilmBox Africa, FilmBox Action, Dizi, DocuBox, FashionBox, Fast&FunBox, FightBox, Gametoon and 360 TuneBox.

They will feature Hollywood movies, Turkish drama series, documentaries, fashion entertainment shows, sports content and live sports events, gaming content, music and a wide range of thematic programming.

Georgina Twiss, MD of Western Europe and Africa at SPI International, said: “It is great to join Glo-TV’s offering, which has been well received in Nigeria, a key market for us and one where I’m sure our channels will flourish.

“It’s always satisfying to make quality content more accessible in Africa in collaboration with innovative, new players in the region such as Glo-TV.”

The nine channels can be watched by Glo-TV subscribers on Android, iOS apps and on the web.

SPI International is a global media company operating 42 TV channels and multiple digital products across six continents, and is a major player in content distribution and broadcasting worldwide.

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SPI/FilmBox, Virgo ink distribution pact

Global media company SPI/FilmBox has partnered with telecoms monetisation firm Digital Virgo to bring FilmBox Africa and other TV channels in the SPI portfolio to multiple territories across Africa.

The deal will give all Digital Virgo subscribers in Senegal, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Cameroon, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Congo access to content ranging from gaming to fashion, sports, music, documentaries, movies and series, as well as via Molotov’s OTT service deployed by Digital Virgo across Africa.

FilmBox Africa broadcasts Hollywood blockbusters and popular hits, FilmBox Arthouse showcases cinema classics, Gametoon shows gaming content and FightBox broadcasts combat sports from around the world.

Fast&FunBox, meanwhile, offers action-packed programming, DocuBox presents award-winning documentaries, FashionBox showcases content on fashion trends and 360 TuneBox offers content on music.

Georgina Twiss, MD for Western Europe and Africa at SPI International, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with Digital Virgo to bring SPI’s home of great entertainment to multiple territories in Africa and introduce viewers to the breadth of our content, covering so many different genres that people of all ages and interests will definitely find something that they can enjoy.”

Vincent Taradel, chief marketing officer at Digital Virgo, added: “Our solutions to monetise TV and VoD content are constantly enriched with new partners and an approach combining global entertainment, but also more specific and local content. The partnership with SPI International fully meets this strategy and we are excited to bring these high-quality TV channels to our customers in more than 10 markets in Africa.”

SPI/FilmBox operates a portfolio of 42 TV channels and digital services on six continents while Digital Virgo brings mobile payments to telecom operators’ billing systems.

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SPI/FilmBox, Zuku grow distribution deal

International media company SPI/FilmBox and East African entertainment provider Zuku have agreed an expanded distribution deal to offer SPI’s music and lifestyle brand 360 TuneBox to Zuku subscribers across five East African countries.

Georgina Twiss
Zuku subscribers in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi and Zambia now have access to music from independent artists, DJ sets and a selection of music videos from around the world on the DTH platform, which is part of the East African telecoms company Wananchi Group.

360 TuneBox is SPI’s home for independent music and a platform for emerging and outstanding artists aimed at enabling them reach a wider audience while cultivating their fan base.

Zuku also carries SPI’s FilmBox Africa at channel 207, which offers more than 300 premiere tiles every year, and features popular Hollywood blockbusters, films from renowned directors, world cinema classics and popular series.

Georgina Twiss, MD for Western Europe and Africa at SPI International, said: “360 TuneBox is a great addition to Zuku’s offering and it is guaranteed to entertain those who enjoy discovering new music on a daily basis with its programming slate. We are happy to be building on our good relationship with the Wananchi Group following the launch of FilmBox Africa last year and are looking forward to growing our content portfolio together.”

For over 25 years, SPI International has been a leading supplier of theatrical films and television programming in the international markets. Headquartered in the Netherlands, it operates 42 channels around the world based on brands including FilmBox, Film 1, Kino Polska, Stopklatka and Dizi.

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MultiChoice to carry SPI/FilmBox network

International Emmy nominee Black Money Love

Global media company SPI/FilmBox has partnered with MultiChoice Group to launch its Turkish drama network Timeless Dizi Channel (TDC) on DStv in sub-Saharan Africa.

The channel will be available to DStv subscribers from November 2 on DStv Premium, Compact Plus, Compact and Family packages in South Africa and Lesotho, and on DStv Premium, Compact Plus and Compact across all other sub-Saharan territories.

It will offer DStv viewers hundreds of hours of Turkish dramas including International Emmy nominee Black Money Love and other series such as Karadayi, Kurt Seyit & Shura, The End, Red Scarf, Moms & Mothers, Wings of Love, The 8th Day and Kuzgun.

Georgina Twiss, MD for western Europe and Africa at SPI International, said: “We are very excited about launching on DStv as a leading video entertainment platform in Africa. This brings the Timeless Dizi Channel to a wider audience across the region. SPI and MultiChoice are both committed to bringing phenomenal content that’s built on compelling stories capable of capturing the hearts and minds across generations and geographies.

“That’s why we believe TDC is the perfect addition to DStv’s channel offering with its well-curated selection of dramas, a unique genre of high-budget series from Turkish producers that focus on relatable and engaging stories of family, relationships, morality and love.”

Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice Group’s CEO of general entertainment and connected video, added: “This Turkish pop-up channel is such an exciting opportunity for us to offer a new and unique genre of content to our customers as part of our commitment to bring the best of the world back home.

“As Africa’s most-loved storyteller, we will continue to invest in both local and international content that excites our customers, both young and old, and offers the best entertainment at a great value.”

TDC has reached over five million households worldwide within the first year of its launch and continues to increase its footprint across the globe, with recent distribution deals in Switzerland, Nepal and the Middle East, according to SPI/FilmBox.

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SPI/FilmBox, Axian agree carriage deal

Global media company SPI/FilmBox has entered into a distribution deal with pan-African group Axian to offer four of its TV channels in Madagascar, Comoros and Togo.

FilmBox Africa, FilmBox Arthouse, FightBox and DocuBox will be made available in those countries via the Telma TV and Togocom TV platforms.

FilmBox Africa offers more than 300 premiere titles every year and features Hollywood blockbusters, while FilmBox Arthouse features world cinema classics from iconic directors such as Hitchcock, Kurosawa and Fellini.

DocuBox delivers a collection of award-winning documentaries about different cultures and wonders of the world, while FightBox broadcasts combat sports, live events and multi-discipline mixed martial arts coverage.

Georgina Twiss, MD for western Europe and Africa at SPI International, said: “We are pleased to provide additional windows of curated content for Telma TV and Togocom TV subscribers through our partnership with Axian Group, a prominent player in the African market.

“This deal not only brings two exciting movie channels with content ranging from Hollywood blockbusters to arthouse movies, but also two unique thematic channels geared towards viewers who enjoy documentaries and MMA programming.”

“This partnership further demonstrates Axian Group’s commitment to continuously enlarging its catalogue and offering the best available entertainment content to its clients, because we want our subscribers in Comoros, Madagascar and Togo to enjoy access to globally acclaimed films and TV programmes,” added Matthieu Mertian, head of digital content at Axian Group.

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SPI/FilmBox, Discover Digital expand

Global media company SPI/FilmBox and South Africa’s Discover Digital have expanded their content offering to include seven new channels across sub-Saharan Africa.

Stephen Watson

The additional channels are FilmBox Africa, FilmBox Arthouse, Fast&FunBox HD, DocuBox HD, 360 TuneBox, Gametoon HD and FashionBox HD. They are part of SPI’s channel portfolio on the digital entertainment on demand (DEOD) platform.

The channels will offer subscribers content including Hollywood movies, series, documentaries, fashion trends, lifestyle programmes, music, sport and live events, such as KOK World Series, RXF MMA Championship and MFC Makowski Fighting Championship,.

“Building on the great response to FightBox HD amongst the DEOD subscribers who enjoy a live event every week, and together with our long-term partner Discover Digital, I am pleased to announce we have expanded our agreement to bring seven more channels to their platform. Now DEOD subscribers have access to a richer variety of great HD-quality channels from SPI/FilmBox,” said Georgina Twiss, MD of Western Europe and Africa at SPI International.

Stephen Watson, director of Discover Digital International, said: “We are very excited to add such a broad mix of quality content and extend our distribution partnership with SPI International.

“Not only do the additional FilmBox channels continue to provide our audiences with an excellent selection of broad entertainment, but they also continue to grow and diversify our formidable movie offering by introducing documentaries and arthouse titles. This deal provides additional value for our broadcast and telco operator partners, who offer the DEOD service to their customers in multiple countries on the continent.”

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