10 Global TV Stories You Should Know: 02/01/2024

Here are the stories that should be on your radar

Here are the global TV and streaming video stories that should be on your radar for February 1st, 2024:

Canal+ Makes Bid To Acquire MultiChoice (Digital TV Europe)
The Vivendi-owned pay TV operator has confirmed it has submitted an indicative offer to acquire the 68% of South Africa’s MultiChoice that it does not already own. Canal+ says it will pay ZAR105 a share, representing a 40% premium to MultiChoice’s closing share price yesterday.

E1 Unveils Range Of Major Broadcasters Ahead Of Debut (Sportcal)
The all-electric E1 powerboating series has unveiled a major broadcast tie-up in India with pay-TV heavyweight Star. The broadcaster (owned by Disney), will cover the inaugural E1 season via both its Star Sports linear network and via the Disney+ Hotstar streaming service, from its first race in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, tomorrow (February 2).

Viaplay Signs Sports Distribution Deal With Baltic’s TV3 Group (Digital TV Europe)
Struggling Nordic media outfit, Viaplay Group, has secured a sports distribution deal with Baltic media company TV3 Group covering Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Viaplay’s full live sports portfolio in the Baltic region will be sublicensed to TV3 Group’s streaming service Go3, with direct Viaplay subscribers in the three countries to be transferred to Go3 during March.

Reliance, Murdoch & Paramount-Backed Viacom18 Strike Deal For Disney In India (TBIVision)
Viacom18, the Indian firm backed by Reliance Industries, Paramount Global and James Murdoch’s Bodhi Tree Systems, is set to take a 60% stake in Disney’s operations in the country. A preliminary agreement has been struck between the parties, according to the WSJ, with the Mouse House’s Indian business valued at $3.9bn.

Netflix Unveils MENA 2024 Slate; Confirms New Seasons Of ‘The Exchange’, ‘Dubai Bling’ & Unveils Unscripted Dating Show ‘Love Is Blind, Habibi’ (Deadline)
Netflix has unveiled the highlights of its Original Arabic-language content for the Middle East and North Africa in 2024, with shows coming out of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Kuwait and Jordan. Fresh announcements included the second season of hit female-driven, Kuwaiti finance world drama The Exchange and a third season of unscripted show Dubai Bling.

Warner Bros. Discovery Launches HBO GO On Taiwan Mobile (Digital TV Europe)
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has partnered with telco company Taiwan Mobile to launch its regional streaming service HBO GO on the service. HBO GO will be available on Taiwan Mobile devices from today, 1 February, allowing subscribers to watch local HBO Asia originals, such as Taiwanese comedy-drama The Accidental Influencer, which will debut on 10 February.

Disney Combines Junior With Disney Channel In The Nordics (Broadband TV News)
The Walt Disney Company Nordic & Baltic is to launch a new version of Disney Channel in the Nordic market, combining Disney Junior with the main channel.
Disney has scaled back both Disney Junior and Disney Channel in a number of markets to make way for the Disney+ streaming service.

Warner Bros. Discovery Reveals ‘Three Category’ Approach For Max In Europe (TBIVision)
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is to tailor its launch of streamer Max in Europe into three categories, with the product tailored across the 22 markets in which it is being rolled out. Speaking at the OTT Question Time event at the British Museum yesterday, Leah Hooper Rosa, SVP, head of streaming EMEA at WBD, that Max in Europe will be part of “a global product” but with a locally-focused content offering geared to three categories of markets.

Netflix Adapting Oscar-Nominated Spanish Film ‘My Dearest Señorita’; Streamer Provides First Look At Anti-Hero Drama Series ‘Superstar’ (Deadline)
Netflix has ordered another Spanish film, My Dearest Señorita, and unveiled a first look at upcoming drama series Superstar at an event in Madrid. My Dearest Señorita, produced by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, is an adaptation of the 1972 Oscar-nominated film of the same name directed by by Jaime de Arimañán.

Joyn Austria Adds Warner Bros. Discovery Channels (Broadband TV News)
Streaming platform Joyn is now offering viewers in Austria six free-TV channels from Warner Bros. Discovery Deutschland. In total, Joyn offers over 90 free live TV channels in Austria, an on-demand section with over 30 catch-up services as well as around 30 radio stations.