Viaplay Select seals carriage deal with Canal+ Austria

Viaplay Group and Canal+ have agreed a partnership to make hundreds of hours of content from branded block Viaplay Select exclusively available on Canal+ in Austria.

All told, Canal+ subscribers in Austria will have access to 300 hours of Viaplay series, films and documentaries, together with third-party content from the Nordic region. The deal means Viaplay Select is has now launched in 20 markets since debuting in spring 2022, with more planned for 2023. This comes alongside the rollout of the company’s streaming platform, currently available in the Nordic and Baltic countries, Poland, the Netherlands and the UK, with a US/Canada launch due this quarter.

Vanda Rapti, Viaplay Group chief commercial officer North America & Viaplay Select: said: “This latest partnership demonstrates both the appeal and flexibility of our unique Viaplay Select concept. Austria is a mature streaming market, and Viaplay’s premium content will help Canal+ stand out in their newest territory. At the same time, local viewers can experience our storytelling and get a taste of what Viaplay is all about.”

Philipp Böchheimer, managing director Canal+ Austria, added: “Viaplay Select’s great titles, especially the range of Nordic Noir series, are very attractive for the Canal+ audience and will be available without extra cost. The addition of Viaplay’s content will be key in fostering our position as the home of Europe’s best series and movies.”

While Viaplay Select is a solid commercial proposition in its own right, it is also a useful way of familiarising consumers with the brand, in the hope that they might trade up to Viaplay’s full streaming platform as and when it becomes available. While Viaplay Select has around 300 hours of content, the full streaming platform is typically nearer 1100 hours, and in some markets also comes with live sports coverage.

Currently, Viaplay Group is planning to launch its full streaming service into the DACH markets by the end of 2023. Recently, it launched the Viaplay Select branded block into Canada in partnership with Bell Media’s Crave service in Canada.