Cineflix Rights takes stake in Love TV Channels

Cineflix Rights has struck an unusual deal with European FAST operator Love TV Channels that involves the distributor taking a stake in the Barcelona-based business.

The distributor will deliver localised versions of its lifestyle, true crime and nature shows in return for a stake in the Love TV Channels business. Financial terms have not been revealed.

Love TV Channels, which operates in 34 countries across Europe, the US, the UK and Lat Am, will offer French, Italian and Spanish versions of an initial 500 hours of Cineflix content.

Series include Property Brothers, Homicide: Hours to Kill, Holiday Homes in the Sun, Border Security: America’s Front Line and Inside Taronga Zoo.

Cineflix Rights already operates 11 single brand and genre owned-and-operated FAST channels across the US, Canada and the UK. It also has 21 YouTube channels, which it expects to double in the next 12 months.

It is rolling out non-English language versions of its FAST and YouTube channels, including the Spanish-language Mayday: Catástrofe Aérea.

Mike Gould, senior vice president of digital at Cineflix Rights, said: “We have seen double-digit revenue growth from this activity over the past year and see further potential as we roll out our brands direct-to-consumer through our owned channels as well as in partnerships with other platforms.

“This deal with Love TV Channels reflects our ability to offer a variety of partnership and financing models to bring some of the world’s biggest television franchises to the widest range of platforms.”

Teresa López, chief exec and co-founder at Love TV Channels, added that the deal will “contribute to the growth of our thematic TV channels driving higher engagement with our audiences across the different markets”.

Love TV Channels operates 10 brands and 26 TV channels around the world, which it says reach more than 25 million households per month on platforms including Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Pluto TV and Amazon Prime Video.