Telefónica makes pitch in aggressive pay TV discount battle

Telefónica has launched an aggressively priced new TV offering, providing its Movistar Fusión+ Premium Extra TV service for €9.90 a month until the end of this year without a contract commitment.

Subscribers who sign up for the Movistar Fusión+ convergent offering, which includes options of 30Mbps ADSL or 300Mbps fibre-based internet access for €65 and €77 respectively, between today and September 30 will benefit from the TV offer. The promotion is also open to existing customers, regardless of which package they currently take.

The offer includes access to Telefónica’s premium football offering. Subscribers who take the Premium Extra option can view all sport content, premium movies and series and over 80 basic channels in the basic package as well as à la carte channels. Channels available include premium service Canal+ and specialist channels including Caza y Pesca, Mezzo and Classica. Premium Extra is normally priced at €65.

Subscribers who take up the offer will be able to view content in HD and take advantage of functionalities including networkd DVR and the Yomvi TV everywhere service, seven-day catch and a video-on-demand catalogue comprising 15,000 movie and series titles.

The move, using TV to drive multi-play subscriptions, comes in the wake of launches of low-cost promotions by Telefónica’s rivals Vodafone and Orange. Vodafone is making its football offering, including coverage of Spain’s La Liga and Champions League tournaments, available for €6 a month to existing Vodafone TV customers, available like Telefónica’s promotion until September 30. Orange has also launched a promotion until the end of September, in its case providing Champions League and Europa League football for €5 and Spanish domestic football for €9.95.

Telefónica has yet to strike a deal with Catalan broadcaster and Champions League rightsholder Mediapro, meaning that European football is still missing from its offering.

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