Subscribers to Spanish pay-television operator Canal Plus will be able to access Formula One and MotoGP content provided by Movistar TV from next month, according to multiple reports.
Spanish newspaper El Mundo said the first race on offer from the motorcycling championship will be the German Grand Prix on July 12, while content from motor racing series F1 will commence with the Hungarian GP on July 26.
The development is a result of the process of integration between Movistar TV and Canal Plus following Telefónica’s takeover of the latter. Movistar is the IPTV platform owned and run by Telefónica.
In April, Spain’s competition regulator, the Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y La Competencia, gave the green light to the deal. The announcement came after Telefónica in July 2014 secured a 100-per-cent shareholding in Canal Plus through its acquisition of Mediaset España’s 22-per-cent stake for €295m. Telefónica had already agreed a deal to acquire a 56-per-cent stake in Canal Plus from media company Prisa for €750m, raising its interest to 78 per cent.
Following the CNMC’s approval, it was reported that Telefónica would be required to share 50 per cent of its premium content with other pay-television operators.