SPI International heralds FilmBox+ ‘smart channels’ innovation

Canal+-owned SPI International has unveiled a new innovation called ‘smart channels’ for its streaming service FilmBox+. Smart channels, says SPI, are “specially curated playlists of on-demand content that play in a similar fashion to linear channels”.

The company says the channels are fully digital and exclusive to FilmBox+. In addition to FilmBox+’s VOD catalogue and linear channels, subscribers can stream smart channels that are genre-specific or dedicated to particular content, actors or directors.

“People love watching linear channels worldwide,” said Haymi Behar, CMO & CDO at SPI International. “This is because audiences cherish the serendipity of stumbling onto a good movie that’s reminiscent of the TV zapping experience. Smart channels combine the best aspects of on-demand and linear by enabling viewers to discover content that they might otherwise miss by scrolling through a vast library.”

FilmBox+ says examples of its smart channels include genre-specific services like FilmBox Kids, FilmBox Comedy, FilmBox Crime, FilmBox Horror and vertical movie channels. Viewers can also access channels dedicated to lifestyle programming including water sports and mixed martial arts. “Smart channels is an innovation that helps us create dedicated streaming channels through our CMS (content management system) within minutes – which is an added value for the operators that are integrated with FilmBox+. Whether a customer likes sailing competitions or Tarkovsky movies, they can now find a channel curated for their taste without a hassle within the platform.”