SPI International

Last updated
SPI International
IndustryMedia
FoundedDecember 23, 1993;30 years ago (1993-12-23)
Headquarters
The Hague
,
Netherlands
Number of employees
300 (2024)
Parent Canal+ Group
Website spiintl.com

SPI International is an international media company based in the Netherlands. [1] It is owned by Canal+ Group. It operates 42 TV channels, multiple digital products across six continents, and is a major player in content distribution and broadcasting worldwide. [2]

Contents

The company operates multiple free to air and pay TV channels in CEE, Western Europe, CIS and Adria regions including key European markets such as Poland, Czechia, Romania, Serbia, and the Netherlands. [2]

SPI’s brands include FilmBox+ and Dizi streaming services. SPI also owns and operates the brand assets of Film1 premium movie services in The Netherlands, including four linear channels and an on-demand service. [2]

Brands and Companies

History

In 2019, SPI bought Film1 from Sony Pictures Television. [3] Film1 operates four movie channels in the Netherlands - Film1 Action, Film1 Drama, Film1 Family, Film1 Premiere and an on-demand service. [2]

In March 2022, the French media company Canal+ Group acquired a 70% stake in the company. [4] In August 2023, it was announced Canal+ Group had acquired the remaining 30% of SPI, taking full control of the company. [5]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Groupe Canal+</span> French media company

Canal+ Group is a French media and telecommunications conglomerate. It is owned and controlled by Vivendi and has a film library in excess of 5,000 films. It is headquartered in Issy-les-Moulineaux, in the suburbs of Paris. It has operations in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Poland, Romania, Hungary, in the Czech Republic, Myanmar, Vietnam, and in 23 African countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ziggo Sport Totaal</span> Dutch television service

Ziggo Sport Totaal is a Dutch premium television service operated by Ziggo and owned by VodafoneZiggo, a joint venture between Liberty Global and Vodafone. Ziggo Sport Totaal launched as Sport1 with its sister service Film1 on 1 February 2006 and replaced the Canal+ Netherlands channels. Film1 was sold to Sony Pictures Television on 21 July 2015, while Sport1 remained Liberty Global-owned. At launch the service consisted of two main channels, six extra channels and one HD simulcast of the first main channel. On 2 February 2009 the number of extra channels was reduced to four. The extra channels only broadcast when necessary to live broadcast multiple sport events at the same time. The service was rebranded to Ziggo Sport Totaal on 12 November 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Film1</span> Dutch premium television and video on demand service

Film1 is a Dutch premium television and video on demand service that replaced Canal+ and is owned by SPI International.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Filmnet</span> Television channel

FilmNet was the name used for several premium television channels in Europe during the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. It was launched on 9 March 1985, broadcasting with a focus on Scandinavia, the Netherlands and the northern part of Belgium (Flanders). Filmnet channels were later launched in Poland and Greece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Film1 Action</span> Television channel

Film1 Action is a Dutch premium television channel owned by SPI International. Its main focus is on thriller, action and horror films. Film1 launched together with its sister service Sport1 on 1 February 2006 and replaced the Canal+ Netherlands television channels. Film1 offers multiple channels with Dutch and international film and television series productions. On 1 October 2008 Film1 launched Film1 Action.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Film1 Premiere</span> Television channel

Film1 Premiere is a Dutch premium television channel owned by SPI International. It is the flagship channel of the premium television service Film1. Film1 launched with its sister service Sport1 on 1 February 2006 and replaced the Canal+ Netherlands television channels. Film1 offers multiple channels with Dutch and international film and television series productions. Films are first shown on prime time on Film1 Premiere. On 25 February 2011, Film1.1 was rebranded as Film1 Premiere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Film1 Family</span> Television channel

Film1 Family is a Dutch premium television channel owned by SPI International. Its main focus is on comedy and children films. Film1 launched together with its sister service Sport1 on 1 February 2006 and replaced the Canal+ Netherlands television channels. Film1 offers multiple channels with Dutch and international film and television series productions. Film1.2 rebranded into Film1 Family on 25 February 2011. Film1 Family changed into Film1 Comedy & Kids on 6 September 2013 but on 1 September 2016 it changed back to Film1 Family.

Film1 Festival, formerly known as Film1.3, was a Dutch premium television channel owned by Chellomedia, the European content division of Liberty Global. On 1 March 2012 the channel was replaced by Film1 Sundance. Its main focus was on arthouse films and international productions. Film1 launched together with its sister service Sport1 on 1 February 2006, and replaced the Canal+ Netherlands television channels. Film1 offers multiple channels with Dutch and international film and television series productions. On 25 February 2011 Film1.3 was rebranded into Film1 Festival. On 31 January 2012, Film1 announced that Film1 Festival would be replaced by Film1 Sundance on 1 March 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Film1 Drama</span> Television channel

Film1 Drama is a Dutch premium television channel owned by SPI International. Every night the programming is dedicated to a theme, such as a director or a genre. Film1 launched together with its sister service Sport1 on 1 February 2006 and replaced the Canal+ Netherlands television channels. Film1 offers multiple channels with Dutch and international film and television series productions. Initially Film1 Drama started as Film1 Series on 17 January 2012 when it replaced the 1 hour timeshift channel Film1 Premiere +1, focusing on television series. It changed into Film1 Spotlight on 6 September 2013. On 1 September 2016 Film1 Spotlight got renamed by Film1 Drama.

Stopklatka.pl is the oldest Polish film website which provides information about films, television programmes, actors, actresses etc. The website was created in August 1996, however, the story of Stopklatka began as early as in October 1986, when the first radio programme was broadcast under the same title, "Stopklatka". In December 2012, the website went through significant changes such as logo and layout refreshments. Currently the database includes 60,169 films, 4,247 TV series, and 191,950 actors and actresses.

Stopklatka TV is a Polish television channel owned by Stopklatka SA. It offers film subject matter being involved in a company Kino Polska, of SPI International Polska belonging to the group and the Agora S.A. The channel started on March 15, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FilmBox</span> European TV channel

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">DocuBox</span> European TV channel

DocuBox is a European premium television channel and video on demand service owned by SPI International, a division of Canal+ Group. It features documentary films covering nature, science, culture and human civilization.

References

  1. "SPI International BV". Bloomberg. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "About Us". SPI International.
  3. Clarke, Stewart (8 July 2019). "Sony and SPI International Strike Deal for Film1 Movie Channels in the Netherlands". Variety.
  4. "Canal+ completes SPI acquisition". Broadbandtvnews.com. 2022-03-18. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  5. "Canal+ buys up SPI International". Broadband TV News. 2023-08-18. Retrieved 2023-08-19.