Mediaset España planning pay VOD offering

Mediaset España is to start charging for on-demand premieres of shows ahead of their terrestrial airing and other content on its Mitele portal later this year, according to local press.

According to financial daily El Español, citing unnamed sources, Mediaset is finalising the technical platform for launching a pay service before the end of the year with the aim of complementing its advertising revenues.

Mediaset España, which had 16 million registered online users in April, up 22.5% year-on-year, aims to offer, for a monthly subscription or pay-per-view fee, flagship shows such as Supervivientes and Gran Hermano ahead of their linear airing without advertising along with clips of episodes of popular shows.

According to El Español, Mediaset is looking at a low-cost subscription model or PPV payment model.

The paper reports that Mediaset’s plan is totally independent from LOVEStv, the joint project in which it is involved with public broadcaster RTVE and fellow commercial player Atresmedia.

LOVEStv, the joint HbbTV-based platform created by the trio last year launched officially in November, with a prediction that it would be installed in two million TV sets by the end of the year.

The service provides access to seven-day catch-up from its partners, as well as the possibility to start watching a currently on air programme from the start, an improved electronic programme guide and a recommendation service. Other features to be added soon include local opt-outs and advanced advertising.

The group have said that they would look to launch a joint OTT TV service as a second phase of the project, which will include additional content.