AMC and Atresmedia’s EspañaTV to debut in Portugal

AMC Networks International Southern Europe (AMC and Atresmedia Internacional’s Spanish-language JV EspañaTV will launch on DTH and IPTV in Portugal on July 22 on Altice Portugal’s Meo platform.

The seven-channel bouquet provides channels specialised in the country’s cuisine, cinema, music, current events, series and entertainment.

While Portugal marks the service’s international debut, the offering will soon be launched in the French pay TV market and is being made available to operators across Europe.

AMCNISE has contributed its thematic channels Canal Cocina, specialized in Spanish cuisine, Canal Decasa, with original productions covering home décor, health and beauty Sol Música, a music channel produced in Spain; and Somos, with a selection of classic movies from the country.

Atresmedia supplies the bouquet with Atrescine, a channel that premieres recent Spanish films, Atreseries, with original series produced by the Spanish broadcaster, and Antena 3 Internacional, a breaking news and entertainment channel.

The partnership, which was unveiled last October,is designed to provide operators outside of Spain with a range of Spanish TV content, meeting demand for Spanish-language content in other European countries, which the pair say is a market of more than 23 million Spanish-speakers.

Manuel Balsera, EVP and managing director of AMCNISE, said, “This is an important part of AMCNISE’s international expansion, and this new alliance with Meo underscores the value we provide to distributors and our commitment to offering diverse, premium quality content to audiences. EspañaTVbuilds on our company’s presence in the Portuguese pay TV market and highlights the growing demand for our content and brands. We are looking forward to our continued partnership with Atresmedia for additional launches of EspañaTV in Europe in the months ahead.”

Javier Nuche, Managing Director of Atresmedia Internacional, said: “There is an untapped opportunity to reach the community of Spaniards living in Europe and the joint offer between Atresmedia and AMCNISE’s channels creates a very attractive product for these customers. We expect that this alliance will help us grow significantly in the European market and we are confident that this launch on MEO will be the first of many more to come.”