Paramount Outlines International SVOD Strategy – Series Mania

Paramount is the most recent studio to plant its flag within the floor at French TV drama competition Sequence Mania, the place worldwide CEO Raffaele Annecchino broke down the corporate’s worldwide distribution and SVOD technique.

In a keynote moderated by Selection’s Italy and West Asia correspondent Nick Vivarelli, Annecchino detailed plans to focus internationally on premium SVOD service Paramount Plus and FAST providing Pluto TV, which has greater than 64 million month-to-month customers. Additionally within the combine to “compete with our ecosystem,” in keeping with Annecchino, is Paramount’s JV with Comcast, SkyShowtime, which is launching in 20 European markets the place Paramount Plus received’t be accessible.

By the tip of 2022, each Paramount Plus and SkyShowtime will likely be in additional than 60 markets in Europe. Paramount Plus may even increase into South Korea later this yr in partnership with CJ ENM, and in different Asian markets in addition to Africa and West Asia (the area previously often called the Center East) in 2023.

Moderately than one sweeping worldwide launch, Annecchino mentioned the corporate is choosing a market-by-market strategy that “permits us to increase into new markets shortly and economically, with huge potential.” For nations like France, U.Ok., Italy and Germany, the enterprise will present a “arduous bundle” mannequin with Paramount Plus, whereas SkyShowtime permits Paramount to enter different European markets at a decrease value.

Not like WarnerMedia’s HBO Max workforce, which seems to be aggressively courting European drama producers at Sequence Mania, Annecchino didn’t reveal any type of content material technique or want record for Paramount Plus.

The exec highlighted premium exhibits like “Halo” and “The First Girl” as flagship titles heading to the platform. (The latter Showtime collection starring Viola Davis, Gillian Anderson and Michelle Pfeiffer will premiere internationally on the platform in two weeks.) He additionally reiterated plans to launch 50 Paramount Plus worldwide scripted originals in 2022. As revealed by Selection, these embody “A Gentleman in Moscow” and a “Horny Beast” prequel collection, in addition to “NCIS Sydney,” Misan Harriman’s “Protests & Progress” and docuseries “Not a Bride.”

Paramount has additionally simply struck a cope with French studio powerhouse Gaumont, with plenty of titles introduced as a part of the three-year partnership.

Requested how the service differs from its opponents, Annecchino underlined the corporate’s breadth of content material; a broader streaming mannequin that spans a well-established FAST providing in Pluto TV in addition to the brand new SVOD service; a world portfolio of linear networks like Channel 5 within the U.Ok., Community 10 in Australia and Telefe in Latin America; and groups in 30 markets all over the world in addition to 12 worldwide studios.