09-01-2019

TVP to Buy Showmax

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    WARSAW: Polish public broadcaster TVP is negotiating the purchase of the Showmax VOD service from Naspers, following the owner's decision to leave the Polish market by the end of January 2019.

    "As a board member I can inform you that we are potentially interested in the purchase of the service and license of the Showmax platform. It would be an addendum of our VOD TVP platform, that has been developing strongly. Of course we can make the final decision after a full evaluation of the offer. From TVP's point of view the catalogue of licences and broadcasting rights as well as the service itself are very interesting. Showmax will leave a certain free space that can be filled by its competitors, but one needs to remember that the battle in the Polish VOD segment is fierce." TVP Vice-President Maciej Stanecki said in an official statement.

    The VOD platform Showmax premiered in Poland on 5 February 2017 and noted 172 000 subscribers, which is double what Netflix had on the Polish market the same day. In December 2018, Showmax announced that the VOD service will finish its activity in Poland by the end of 2019. "Despite the good results and popularity of the service, further development of Showmax Poland, the only MCG company active in the video sector outside of the Africa region, doesn't fall in line with the Nasper's as well as MCG strategy, that is focused on the African continent. Showmax Africa will still be active as part of the MultiChoice Group and the changes do not affect other Nasper investments in Poland." announced Showmax in an official statement.

    In 2018 Showmax CEE noted 4.4 m EUR /19.21 m PLN of sales income and 325,255 EUR / 1.4 m PLN of profit in Poland.