So who is this new kid joining the SVOD adventure? It is neither more nor less than the giant Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) which is preparing to launch its own service: Max.
Today, Netflix still reigns supreme in the field of video on demand. However, competition is increasingly tough and many streaming platforms are available: Apple TV+, Prime Video, Paramount+ or Disney+, the choice is now very wide for movie buffs and series fans. However, WBD is about to deploy its own platform in Europe: Max. With an already very competitive sector, will the American firm manage to find a place among all the other players?
A gradual deployment in Europe
Max will appear in France next summer, France being one of WBD’s main European markets. We will not be the first in the Old Continent to have it, since the platform will be launched in the spring in 22 different countries: Spain, Portugal, Scandinavian countries, and even central and eastern European countries.
A deployment strategy which was detailed by the international president of WBD himself, Gerahrd Zeiler, accompanied by Leah Hooper, responsible for streaming in the European zone. The information was revealed during a keynote at Mipcom Cannes, an event bringing together streaming, television and media professionals. Another interesting announcement for sports fans: Max will broadcast major sporting events live. Among them are the Paris Olympic Games, major cycling competitions and the Tennis Grand Slams.
Partnerships and original content
In France, WBD is in partnership with Amazon Prime Video and will offer a specific offer called “Warner Pass”. This will include all of HBO’s broadcasts as well as those from 12 other channels (Cartoon Network, CNN, Eurosport and others). According to declarations, this partnership will last until the end of 2024. Even if the company has somewhat lightened its distribution strategy in Europe, it turns out that France and Spain are in their little papers and that our country has been identified as an interesting market. WBD has already ordered original content for us, a mini-series, “ The Mythomaniac of the Bataclan “. Inspired by a true story, it will follow a woman who sneaked into an association of victims of the 2015 attacks.
Zeiler was quite clear about his view of his gigantic company: “ We are a content-driven company and storytellers. This is our mission and our vision. The stories we tell are very broad: feature films, series, scripted or unscripted shows, animation, sport or current affairs “. In short, you will have understood, Warner Bros. aims very broadly to hope to make a name for itself in the streaming sector.
For several months, one observation has become increasingly evident: with regularly higher prices and ever-increasing constraints on sharing accounts or displaying advertisements, whether or not to subscribe to an SVoD platform is increasingly being considered. . Because apart from myCanal, which today acts as a bit of a UFO in the video streaming landscape, the top three that is Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ are proving less and less accessible. This comparison is therefore here to help you see more clearly and invest (or not) as best as possible.
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Source : Variety
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