M6 to launch paid-for option within 6play streaming service

French broadcaster M6 Group is to launch a premium paid-for option as part of its 6play streaming offering.

The new pay service, 6play max, will offer the 6play line-up of content without advertising but will also enable additional functionalities. .

These include the ability to download content for offline viewing and the ability to cast content to the TV from the 6play app.

Programmes on the premium service will be available to view for a minimum of 30 hours and will be streamed in 1080p HD.

6play max subscribers will also be able to view, for the first time, content on their Samsung smart TVs as well as Android TV devices, which M6 said accounted for about 70% of the installed base in France, citing figures from Médiamétrie.

The 6play max service has been developed by Bedrock, M6 Group’s technology partner. The service is available on PCs, tablets, mobile devices and smart TVs for €2.99 a month without an ongoing contract for the first 12 months, and €3.99 a month thereafter. Users can trial the service for free for seven days.

All 6,500 hours of content available on 6play will remain available free of charge with advertising for those not signing up to the pay option.

M6 said that some catch-up content would continue to include ads for contractual reasons, and linear channels would continue to carry advertising.

M6’s launch of the pay offering follows the abandonment by owner RTL of plans to sell the broadcaster following the break-up of its planned fusion with rival commercial broadcaster TF1.