TVREAL
Discovery’s new streaming platform, discovery+, has launched in the U.S. with a raft of distribution deals in place and has landed a long-term, multiplatform agreement in Europe with Vodafone.
The deal with Vodafone covers 12 European markets: the U.K., Germany, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Romania, Portugal, Greece, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland and Iceland. Vodafone reaches about 100 million customers via its TV, fixed broadband and mobile services across those territories. The rollout is planned during the course of 2021 and 2022, with discovery+ being made available to Vodafone customers for a promotional period that will vary by market. Discovery’s linear channels will continue to be available to Vodafone customers on TV in Germany, Italy, Spain, Romania, Portugal, Greece, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland and Iceland.
David Zaslav, president and CEO of Discovery, Inc., said, “We are delighted to announce this multi-territory and multiplatform partnership with Europe’s largest mobile and fixed network operator. Vodafone’s vast and deep consumer relationships will provide a powerful engine for discovery+ as together we bring the definitive destination for real-life entertainment to consumers across Europe. Our hybrid agreement with Vodafone advances our broader strategy of expanding our linear distribution relationships to bring our popular content to consumers across more platforms and devices.”
Ahmed Essam, chief commercial operations and strategy officer at Vodafone Group, added, “I am extremely pleased to have made this agreement with Discovery, which extends our existing partnership and perfectly demonstrates Vodafone’s positioning as one of Europe’s leading video content platforms. Discovery will be a key part of our Entertainment offer, providing a rich choice of content that will enhance Vodafone’s provision of a superior customer experience across its high-quality TV and flexible streaming services.”
discovery+ went live in the U.S. today on a range of devices, including Amazon, iOS, Google, Xbox, Roku and Samsung smart TVs. “As we go live with discovery+ today in the U.S., we are thrilled to be working with best-in-class partners to make it available everywhere our fans are,” Zaslav said. “Our ambition is simple: bring consumers the definitive and most complete destination for real-life entertainment at a price point that makes this the perfect companion for every household’s streaming and TV portfolio. There is nothing like it in the market today. We launch with significant advantages, including the world’s greatest collection of nonfiction brands and content, built over more than 30 years across popular and enduring verticals, as well as powerful partnerships with leading distributors and platforms.”
Discovery had previously announced a pact with Verizon in the U.S. and Sky in the U.K. and Ireland.
