France Télévisions, M6 and TF1, three of France’s leading media groups, will join forces to launch a new OTT platform in the country.
Salto will provide a variety of programmes, including sports coverage, as well as news, entertainment, documentaries and films.
The platform, which will also offer exclusive content live and on-demand, “intends from the outset to welcome shows from other broadcasters”, the trio said. The launch date was not announced.
A variety of subscription packages will be available and will sit alongside the existing free OTT platforms operated by the companies, MYTF1, 6Play and France.tv. According to French newspaper Le Figaro, the subscriptions will start from as little as €1.99 ($2.31) per month.
The venture requires the approval of the competition authorities in France and will be 33.3-per-cent owned by each organisation.
La Tribune said that the three organisations would pool their technological investments into the platform to optimise performance, as well as providing content.
All three media companies show sports coverage, although public-service broadcaster France Télévisions reduced its budget for sports programming by between €10m and €15m this year.
Commercial broadcasters TF1 and M6 have rights for France national football team matches over four years, from 2018-19 to 2021-22.