Molotov strikes deal with Canal+ ahead of July launch

French OTT service Molotov is to publicly launch on July 11. The service, which is backed by former Canal+ chief Pierre Lescure along with co-founders Jean-David Blanc and Jean-Marc Denoual, has also announced that it has signed a distribution deal with Canal+ that will see a range of free-to-air and premium movie channels made available to Molotov users.

The Canal+ deal, announced today at MIPTV, will see Molotov distribute free TV services D8, D17 and iTele as well as seven Cine+ premium channels: Cine+ Premier, Cine+ Frisson, Cine+ Emotion, Cine+ Famiz, Cine+ Club, Cine+Classic and on-demand service Cine+ A la demande.

Molotov will be available to users free of charge and will be accessible across multiple devices including computers, smartphones, tablets and connected TVs.

Blanc said “After months of hard work, user tests and analyses, we are very pleased to offer a new television experience this summer. One that is free and fully focused on what viewers expect from television in the 21st century. More than ever, we are convinced that television has an outstanding value proposition, provided it is delivered through the right user experience.”

Lescure said “The arrival of the Canal+ Group channels particularly pleases me and reinforces our vision of the evolution of television distribution. We’re devoting all of our efforts to bring viewers a new, long awaited television distribution platform that meets the needs of today, and particularly the millennials.”